The Telangana Legislative Assembly has passed the Core Urban Region (Integrated Governance) Bill, 2026, introducing a major change to the way Hyderabad and its surrounding urban areas will be administered.
The Bill was passed by the Assembly on September 12, 2026, after a draft version had earlier been released for public feedback. The government had invited people to submit their suggestions and objections during the consultation process.
The legislation officially became law on September 22, after Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla gave his assent. The new law replaces the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Act of 1955, which had governed the city’s municipal administration for around seven decades.
One of the biggest changes introduced by the new legislation is the reorganisation of the existing GHMC. Instead of having one corporation oversee the entire area, the new system will divide the GHMC into three separate municipal corporations.
The government has described the move as part of an effort to create a more effective governance system for Hyderabad’s rapidly growing urban population. The new framework is intended to improve administration and help authorities manage the expanding city and its infrastructure more efficiently.
The legislation comes at a time when Hyderabad has experienced significant growth in population, residential areas, businesses and infrastructure. Managing transportation, roads, drainage, waste management, water supply and other civic services across such a large urban region has become increasingly complex.
However, the passage of the Bill has also led to criticism from sections of the public and other stakeholders. Questions have been raised about whether the suggestions received during the public consultation were adequately considered before the final legislation was passed.
The draft Bill had been made available for public feedback more than two months before the Assembly passed it. Critics are now questioning how the feedback was assessed and whether significant changes were made based on the concerns raised by residents.
With the Governor’s approval, the new legislation has now replaced the 1955 GHMC Act and provides the legal framework for the new urban governance structure.
The implementation of the three-corporation system will determine how responsibilities are divided and how civic services are delivered across Hyderabad. The transition is expected to bring further discussions about administrative boundaries, responsibilities and public representation under the new system.