GHMC Merger Leaves Civic Services Disrupted in Hyderabad Outskirts

GHMC Officials Face Criticism as Civic Services Remain Disrupted After Merger

Civic services in several municipalities merged into the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) remain disorganized even three months after the administrative integration, residents in Hyderabad’s outskirts have said.

The state government merged multiple municipalities and municipal corporations into GHMC on December 3 last year. However, residents claim that basic services such as sanitation, drinking water supply, and administrative approvals have not improved since the merger.

Residents Report Administrative Delays

People living in the merged areas say they are struggling with delays in routine civic services. Even minor issues now require intervention from higher officials, making grievance resolution slower.

Residents say earlier local municipal offices handled most issues directly. After the merger, they now have to approach zonal commissioners for many administrative matters.

Although deputy zonal commissioners are present in the merged areas, residents say they do not have decision-making authority to resolve complaints.

Municipalities Merged Into GHMC

Several municipalities and corporations in the Hyderabad outskirts were integrated into GHMC as part of the expansion.

The municipalities include Pedda Amberpet, Turkayamjal, Adibatla, Tukkuguda, Shamshabad, Narsingi, Manikonda, and Bandlaguda.

In addition, the municipal corporations of Badangpet and Meerpet were also merged into GHMC.

Some of these local bodies were placed under the Shamshabad Zone, while others were brought under the Serilingampally Zone for administrative management.

Online Approval Systems Create Delays

Residents say applications for building construction approvals, apartment projects, and villa developments are facing delays even after being submitted online.

Issues related to the Layout Regularization Scheme (LRS) and other online services are reportedly causing further complications.

Officials have told applicants that online systems are still facing operational challenges. This has delayed approvals for construction projects and other civic services.

Sanitation and Illegal Construction Concerns

Local residents have also raised concerns about sanitation management in the merged areas.

Several main roads are reportedly filled with garbage due to irregular waste collection. Residents say sanitation services have worsened since the merger.

There are also allegations that illegal constructions are increasing in these localities due to a lack of monitoring by field-level officials.

Residents Forced to Approach Zonal Offices

Municipalities including Pedda Amberpet, Turkayamjal, Adibatla, Tukkuguda, and Shamshabad, along with the corporations of Badangpet and Meerpet, are now under the Shamshabad Zonal Commissioner.

Meanwhile, Narsingi, Manikonda, and Bandlaguda municipalities fall under the Serilingampally Zonal Commissioner.

Residents say that even minor civic issues now require visits to zonal offices because local officials do not have the authority to resolve them.

Many residents claim that civic services functioned more smoothly when the areas were managed under their previous municipal administrations.