Hyderabad, Feb 11: In a landmark move to reshape the governance of Telangana’s capital, the State Government officially issued orders on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, to trifurcate the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) into three independent civic bodies. The decision, formalised through G.O. Ms. No. 55, comes just one day after the five-year term of the previous GHMC Council concluded. This restructuring is a key component of the government’s Core Urban Region (CURE) plan, aimed at decentralising administration for the city’s rapidly expanding population of over 1.3 crore people.
The erstwhile “mega” GHMC, which recently expanded to cover over 2,000 sq. km, has been divided into three distinct entities. Each will function as an independent body with its own Mayor and Commissioner. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will now focus on the historic core and southern heritage areas, including Khairatabad, Secunderabad, Charminar, Golconda, Rajendranagar, and Shamshabad. The newly formed Cyberabad Municipal Corporation will govern the western IT corridor, encompassing Serilingampally, Kukatpally, and Quthbullapur. Meanwhile, the Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation will manage the eastern residential and industrial flanks of Malkajgiri, Uppal, and L.B. Nagar.
To ensure a seamless transition, the government has already appointed the first set of Commissioners. R.V. Karnan, IAS, will continue to lead the reorganised GHMC. G. Srijana, IAS, has been appointed as the first Commissioner of the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation, while T. Vinay Krishna Reddy, IAS, will head the Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation. These officials are expected to assume their roles immediately to prevent any disruption in civic services like sanitation and tax collection.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s administration has cited administrative efficiency as the primary driver for the split. With the city’s jurisdiction reaching the Outer Ring Road (ORR), a single municipal body was deemed too unwieldy to manage local issues effectively. Senior officials suggest that smaller corporations will allow for quicker decision-making and closer oversight of urban planning. For citizens, existing zonal offices will serve as temporary headquarters; the HMDA building in Tarnaka is expected to house the Malkajgiri Corporation, and the NAC office in Madhapur is slated for Cyberabad.
While the government emphasizes governance, the move has sparked intense political debate. Opposition parties, including the BRS and BJP, have labeled the trifurcation as “political gerrymandering” intended to fragment opposition strongholds ahead of the upcoming municipal elections. Analysts suggest the new map aligns closely with the city’s police commissionerates to improve inter-departmental coordination. Elections for the three new bodies are expected to be held within the next six months, with a likely deadline of August 2026, once ward delimitation and voter list updates are finalized.
