1,982.9 sq km area with 1.69 crore population; 27 urban local bodies merged; Rs.14,700 crore infrastructure upgrade approved
Hyderabad, November 26, 2025 – In a historic expansion, Hyderabad has become India’s largest city by area after the state cabinet cleared the merger of 27 urban local bodies (ULBs) with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
The expanded city now covers 1,982.9 square kilometers with a population of 1.69 crore, making it larger than Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai within city limits.
Big Urban Reset
The state cabinet has approved GHMC’s biggest expansion yet, along with massive infrastructure upgrades and ward-wise development funds to reshape Hyderabad’s landscape.
Key Changes:
27 Urban Local Bodies to be Merged: The expansion aims at creating a unified core urban area inside and around the Outer Ring Road (ORR).
Area Expansion:
- Current GHMC: 650 square km
- HMDA (Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority): 7,257 square km
- New expanded GHMC: 1,982.9 square km
Ward Count: Expected to increase from the current 150 wards after the merger.
Major Infrastructure Upgrade
The government has sanctioned a Rs.14,725 crore underground electricity and multi-utility cable system for Hyderabad, modeled on Bengaluru’s underground network.
The plan includes space for power, T-Fiber, telecom, and other cables, aimed at creating a modern, clutter-free urban infrastructure.
Development Fund Allocation
The cabinet approved Rs.2 crore per corporator division for all 150 wards:
Rs.1 crore: Directly for projects proposed by the corporator
Rs.1 crore: For corporator-suggested works cleared by the district in-charge minister
Advanced Tech Centers
As part of the government’s push towards tech-driven urban services:
New ATC sanctioned for Jubilee Hills
6 additional ATCs (Aarogyasri Treatment Centers) approved across Telangana
56 ATCs already exist in Telangana
Three Operation Circles
The city will be split into 3 operation circles for efficient administrative rollout, ensuring better governance and service delivery across the expanded area.
Legislative Amendments
Amendments to GHMC Act and Telangana Municipal Act have been cleared by the cabinet, providing the legal framework for this massive urban expansion.
Unified Urban Governance
The merger creates a unified administrative structure for the core urban area, addressing long-standing issues of:
- Fragmented urban governance
- Inconsistent service delivery
- Infrastructure gaps between GHMC and surrounding ULBs
- Coordination challenges in planning
Comparison with Other Cities
With 1,982.9 sq km, Hyderabad now surpasses:
- Mumbai: Approximately 603 sq km
- Delhi: Approximately 1,484 sq km
- Bengaluru: Approximately 741 sq km
- Chennai: Approximately 426 sq km
This makes Hyderabad the largest city by area within municipal corporation limits in India.
Vision for Future
The expansion and infrastructure upgrades reflect the Telangana government’s vision of creating a world-class metropolitan area that can compete globally while maintaining livability and sustainability.
The underground utility corridor will eliminate overhead power lines and cables, creating a cleaner urban landscape while improving reliability and maintenance efficiency.
With this historic expansion and the accompanying infrastructure investments, Hyderabad is poised to set new benchmarks in urban governance, planning, and service delivery for Indian cities.
