GVMC Ward Delimitation Draws Over 500 Objections

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) received over 500 representations after the public objection window on its draft ward delimitation notification closed. The volume of responses reflects widespread discontent over the proposed reorganisation, which seeks to expand the ward count from 98 to 120.

Sources said the bulk of the objections centred on boundary demarcation and the restructuring of localities. A significant section of petitioners also demanded a further increase in the ward count — from 120 to 150 — arguing that a rapidly expanding city like Visakhapatnam required stronger administrative decentralisation and better civic representation.

Many submissions carried a strong political undercurrent. Ward-level leaders, voters, and elected representatives expressed alarm that the revised boundaries had redrawn their support bases and scattered established voter groups across unfamiliar wards. Many contended the changes would upset local political equations and sever long-standing ties with residents and party workers.

A recurring grievance was what petitioners termed the “unscientific” carving of wards. Complainants alleged that roads and residential stretches had been arbitrarily split between two wards, creating administrative confusion and gaps in civic service coordination.

Former corporator PLVN Murthy went a step further, alleging multiple violations of delimitation norms. He accused the authorities of disregarding natural and administrative boundaries while delineating wards. He insisted that ward formation must strictly follow established parameters: geographical continuity, survey and town survey numbers, major junctions, arterial roads, and the 2011 Census enumeration blocks.

Murthy further alleged that 14 wards had been split by railway tracks and that nearly 30 wards were bisected by National Highway stretches, BRTS corridors, and master plan roads. He also questioned the decision to allow only one week for receiving public objections, calling it inadequate for an exercise of this scale and consequence.

With the objection period now closed, GVMC officials are expected to compile all representations and submit a comprehensive report to the State government for its consideration before the delimitation process is finalised.