GHMC expands to 300 wards as Hyderabad’s urban limits grow

The Telangana government has approved a major expansion of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), increasing the number of wards from 150 to 300. This change follows the merger of 27 surrounding urban local bodies into GHMC limits, which has significantly increased the population and geographical size of the metropolitan area.

In the official notification, the government stated that GHMC and the 27 merged municipalities will together be treated as the Telangana Core Urban Region . The restructuring is intended to improve civic administration, strengthen infrastructure planning, and enhance the efficiency of governance across a rapidly growing Hyderabad.

With the addition of new wards, GHMC is now set to become one of the largest municipal corporations in India. The expansion is also expected to influence political dynamics in the upcoming GHMC elections. The current council's term ends in February 2026, and elections are likely to be conducted based on the new 300-ward structure.

Population growth has been a key factor driving this decision. According to the 2011 Census, GHMC had a population of 67,31,790, with each of the 150 wards accommodating around 36,000 people on average. By 2020, estimates suggested that the average ward population had risen to between 40,000 and 50,000 due to ongoing urban expansion.

While updated census figures are not yet available, government urban development documents estimate that the Telangana Core Urban Region comprising GHMC and the merged municipalities now has a population between 1.05 crore and 1.12 crore. Based on this total, each of the 300 wards is expected to have an average population of 35,000 to 38,000.

Overall, the government believes that this increase in the number of wards will strengthen urban governance, support balanced development, and guide the future growth trajectory of Hyderabad’s metropolitan region.