GVMC to come under Special Officer rule from March 18
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), the largest civic body in Andhra Pradesh, will come under the Special Officer rule from March 18. The term of the elected council ends on March 17, and the State government has not yet announced fresh municipal elections.
The State government has appointed the Visakhapatnam District Collector as the Special Officer to run the civic body after the council’s term ends.
With no indication of early elections, the Special Officer regime may continue for several months. During the council’s final meeting on February 28, corporators urged the State government to hold elections at the earliest. The government, however, has not announced a timeline.
Meanwhile, legislators from the ruling alliance have proposed expanding GVMC limits. They want to merge villages from Anandapuram, Pendurthi, Bheemunipatnam, and Padmanabham mandals into the corporation.
These areas are witnessing rapid urbanisation due to upcoming IT projects, hotels, tourism infrastructure and aviation-related developments.
Local MLAs say these regions have become densely populated suburban zones. They argue that residents now need urban civic services.
Some leaders suggest holding GVMC elections only after the next Census and the delimitation exercise expected around 2027. If that happens, the elections could take place in 2028.
The city last held GVMC elections in 2021. Before that, the corporation functioned under the Special Officer rule for nearly nine years.
GVMC Deputy Mayor Dalli Govinda Raju said the council had taken up several development works during its tenure. “In Gajuwaka alone, we started works worth around ₹250 crore after the NDA government came to power in 2024. With support from MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao, we improved street lighting, built roads, and rebuilt drainage systems,” he said.
Opposition corporators, however, raised concerns about the corporation’s finances. CPM corporator Dr. B. Ganga Rao said the State government diverted nearly ₹1,400 crore from GVMC funds. He also said the corporation had not received reimbursement for expenses on government events held in Visakhapatnam.
Jana Sena corporator P. Murthy Yadav said the council failed to take up major or landmark projects during its five-year term. He said the corporation could have done more to improve basic infrastructure and civic amenities in wards with middle-income and economically weaker residents.
The return to the Special Officer rule has triggered debate among residents. Some say elected corporators raise local issues more effectively. Others believe a Special Officer can pursue long-term development plans more efficiently.