GVMC expansion proposal gains momentum; Bhogapuram’s merger mooted

Ahead of the proposed local body elections, the proposals to merge several gram panchayats in Bheemunipatnam and Pendurthi Assembly constituencies with the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) have gained momentum once again.

Further, a new proposal has brought Bhogapuram mandal in Vizianagaram district into focus, with discussions under way to bring the strategically important mandal, which houses the newly constructed ASR International airport, under the GVMC.

The proposed expansion may cover 79 villages spread across four mandals of Bheemunipatnam, Anandapuram and Padmanabham in Bheemunipatnam Assembly constituency and Pendurthi mandal in Pendurthi Assembly constituency.

Panchayat, revenue and the other officials concerned have been conducting gram sabhas for the past two days to gather public feedback on the proposed merger.

Bheemunipatnam MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao said Bheemunipatnam and Anandapuram were already closely integrated with the GVMC, while Padmanabham remained largely rural and outside the corporation limits.

A similar situation exists in Pendurthi, where a substantial portion of it falls under the GVMC limit, while some rural areas are under the panchayat administration.

“Pendurthi MLA Panchakarla Ramesh Babu and I have submitted representations to MA&UD Minister P. Narayana and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The Chief Minister has asked the MLAs to obtain resolutions from the residents of the respective villages before proceeding with the merger proposal,” said Mr. Ganta Srinivasa Rao.

However, the proposal has triggered several concerns among villagers. As VB-G RAM G works are implemented through the panchayat system, residents fear that they might lose employment opportunities once their villages are brought under the purview of the municipal corporation.

“The feedback from the villages is that many families depend on the job guarantee scheme works. They are apprehensive that they may lose this source of employment if their villages are merged with the GVMC. They are demanding that development works under the GVMC be provided to them or VB-G RAM G employment should continue,” Mr. Srinivasa Rao said.

Residents have expressed apprehension over the possible imposition of municipal taxes and other levies following the merger. They have demanded exemption from such taxes for 5 to 10 years to enable the newly merged areas to adjust to the corporation’s administration, he said.

Meanwhile, MLAs of Bheemunipatnam and Pendurthi have held discussions with Nellimarla MLA Lokam Madhavi on the proposal of merging Bhogapuram with GVMC. Ms. Madhavi, according to Mr. Srinivasa Rao, said that she would consult the local leaders and convey their views on the plan.

The inclusion of Bhogapuram would effectively extend the GVMC’s administrative footprint beyond the Visakhapatnam district and bring the airport under the corporation’s expanded limits.

However, officials point out that the process would require several administrative procedures, including the collection and verification of population data from the areas proposed to be brought under the GVMC.

The government is expected to examine the resolutions passed at the grama sabhas along with the administrative, demographic and other aspects before taking a final decision.