306 Divisions in GHMC?

The GHMC, which has now expanded up to the Outer Ring Road and transformed into a much larger body, is set to undergo a complete structural change. Officials estimate that the number of wards under the council’s jurisdiction is likely to double. The government has already issued orders merging seven corporations and 20 municipalities into the GHMC. GHMC officials have taken full control of council minutes books, accounts, and other key documents. If all goes as planned, the notification for the redivision of wards within the Greater limits may be issued in the next two or three days.

The State Government, which has decided to develop the area up to the Outer Ring Road under the name Telangana Core Urban Region, has brought the entire region under GHMC limits. Earlier, 51 gram panchayats within the ORR were merged into the respective municipalities and corporations. Now, the government has decided to merge seven corporations and 20 municipalities into GHMC. With this, GHMC has taken over the administrative responsibility of these areas.

Recently, after the government issued a G.O., GHMC Deputy Commissioners took complete charge of the offices in these areas. Under the supervision of Zonal Commissioners, they seized council and corporation minutes books, bank account details, related chequebooks, and closed those accounts. From now on, all financial transactions will take place in the name of the GHMC Commissioner.

GHMC officials are preparing to completely reorganize the expanded GHMC. Currently, GHMC consists of 150 corporator wards, 30 circles, and six zones. With the area expanding to 2,170 sq.km up to the ORR, officials are focusing on ward redivision. Plans are being made to increase the number of wards in Greater Hyderabad from the existing number to 300–306. Authorities estimate the population within Greater limits to be around 1.3 crore.

Ward division is likely to be carried out based on 2011 census numbers along with other relevant factors. Proposals are being prepared to ensure each ward has 40,000–45,000 people, with a 10% variation allowed. Assembly constituencies will be taken as the basis, and natural boundaries such as roads, drains, railway tracks, and bridges will be considered while setting ward limits. Thus, more than 300 wards are expected to be created. Existing corporator ward boundaries will also change.

Earlier, ward redivision and reservation changes were done in 2016. During the 2020 corporation elections, only reservations for Mayor and Deputy Mayor were changed. Now, GHMC has once again taken up the task of ward redivision. Staff from the Town Planning department, along with personnel from the merged municipalities and corporations, are fully engaged in this exercise. If everything goes smoothly, the notification for ward redivision will be issued soon.

After the notification, citizens, resident welfare associations, civil societies, political parties, and individuals within GHMC limits will be given the opportunity to submit objections or suggestions. GHMC Council may conduct a special meeting to discuss this matter. After considering all the feedback, the State Government will finalize the ward boundaries.

Officials also say that the number of circles may increase from 30 to 60, and the six existing zones may be increased to 10–12. All these changes are likely to be aligned with the boundaries of MLA constituencies.