Telangana Government to Replace GHMC Act with Core Urban Act (CURE) — What It Means for Urban Governance

The Telangana government has taken a major step in reforming urban governance by announcing that it will replace the existing Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Act with a new Core Urban Act, also referred to as CURE — Core Urban Region Economy Act.

This proposed legislative change will not only rewrite the rules governing civic administration but is also aimed at unifying urban governance across the rapidly expanding areas surrounding Hyderabad’s core city limits.

🌆 Why Is the GHMC Act Being Replaced?

The GHMC Act currently governs the civic functions of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. However, following a recent administrative restructuring — which saw Hyderabad’s civic area reorganised into three separate municipal corporations: GHMC, Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC), and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) — the existing GHMC Act no longer reflects the broader governance needs of the entire core urban zone.

To address this gap, the Telangana government has decided to draft a new Core Urban Act that will serve as the single legal framework for all civic bodies located within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) — referred to collectively as the Core Urban Region Economy (CURE).

This means that instead of three separate municipal systems operating under an older law designed only for GHMC, all major urban functions — such as permissions, fees, development projects, sanitation, and civic services — will be performed under the new unified legislation.

🏙 What Changes Will the Core Urban Act Bring?

Although the Core Urban Act is still being drafted, several key priorities have already been outlined by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy during recent meetings:

1. Unified Municipal Governance: The new law will apply to all three corporations within the core urban area of Hyderabad — ensuring consistent policies and administrative practices.
2. Priority on Development Work: The CM has clear that development works within municipal limits should be prioritised, especially under the state’s 99-day action programme.
3. Sanitation and Solid Waste Management: With a focus on cleanliness, officials will now be required to set up designated garbage dumping zones, install signboards, and take action against individuals who dispose of waste indiscriminately.
4. Food Safety and Public Health: The government has directed the installation of CCTV cameras in hotel kitchens linked to command control centres to ensure food safety standards are maintained, along with regular inspections and compliance ratings.
5. Infrastructure and Road Maintenance: The CM has urged officials to transfer responsibility for all roads in the core urban area into a single department — the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) — to avoid confusion caused by multiple agencies handling road upkeep.
6. Fire Safety in High-Rise Buildings: Given the number of tall buildings in modern Hyderabad, fire safety has been emphasised as a key priority, with instructions issued to procure advanced equipment and technology for emergency responses.
7. Rainwater Harvesting and Environmental Focus: The CM also suggested installing rainwater harvesting wells across the city and exploring other measures to conserve water and promote sustainability.

📊 What This Means for Citizens

For residents of Hyderabad and surrounding urban areas, the Core Urban Act promises a more consistent and efficient governance framework. Some of the benefits could include:

• Simplified administrative processes for approvals and regulations across the new municipal corporations.
• Improved sanitation systems and enforcement of cleanliness standards.
• Faster and better-coordinated infrastructure projects, with clear accountability for road and civic maintenance.
• Enhanced public safety policies, including strengthened food and fire safety standards.

Critically, this reform also reflects Telangana’s vision to align urban governance with the city’s rapid growth and modernisation.

📌 Final Thoughts

Replacing the GHMC Act with the Core Urban Act (CURE) could be one of the most significant shifts in urban governance in Telangana’s recent history. By bringing all major municipal corporations under a single unified legal framework, the government aims to deliver better civic services, improved infrastructure, and a cleaner, safer city for all residents.