HYDERABAD: Like the national capital Delhi, the state capital Hyderabad too will be divided into smaller districts as part of the ongoing exercise of reorganisation of districts.
Keeping the brand image of Hyderabad intact in the global market, Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts will be reorganised into three or four districts. However, a clearer picture (about the plan) will emerge only after the state government conducts an all-party meeting on the reorganisation of districts.
When the exercise on creation of new districts began, officials had diverse views on dividing up Hyderabad. Some saw no need to split Hyderabad, saying that it would badly affect the brand image of the city.
However, officials at the district collectors’ workshop proposed division of Hyderabad and Rangareddy into three districts. The new districts proposed are Hyderabad, Rangareddy (Vikarabad) and a new district of Secunderabad. There is also a proposal to create a district of Shamshabad.
But the Shamshabad proposal is linked with another demand for Sircilla district. “If the decision is to have 14 districts, the administration will choose between Shamshabad and Sircilla. If the number of new districts is to be 15, then Shamshabad will be carved out of Rangareddy,” top sources said. Shamshabad is a suburb of Hyderabad and a lot of development is happening there due to the location of international airport.The state government’s view is that each district should have an average population of 17 lakh. But Greater Hyderabad alone has 1.20 crore population. Hence the need to carve more districts out of Hyderabad, the sources said.
“Initially, Delhi had four districts and later it was divided into 11 districts. Hyderabad too can be divided into smaller districts and it will not affect the brand image globally,” an official said.
The sources further said that currently the GHMC area was spread over three districts _ Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medak _ but the total area is being treated as Hyderabad.
“Hyderabad being a global brand is different and the division of Hyderabad into more districts is different,” an official said.
Sources said that formation of new districts was for administrative purpose. The police, revenue and other departments will have different jurisdictions, another official said. Smaller districts can be administered better and be more responsive and convenient to the people, the sources said.
According to an official, the present Rangareddy district is spread around Hyderabad city and no part of the district is connected with the other. For example, Saroornagar located on the Vijayawada highway and Jeedimetla on the Narasapur highway are both in Rangareddy.
The reorganisation will overcome these problems and bring the administration to the doorstep of people.
According to sources, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has asked chief secretary Rajiv Sharma to focus on Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts as part of the reorganisation exercise.
Initially Delhi had four districts and was later divided into 11 districts.
Hyderabad can also be split into smaller districts and it will not affect the brand image of the city globally. — An official