The long cherished dream of Guntur emerging as a million plus city now appears to be in serious doubt. Despite the Guntur Municipal Corporation council approving the proposal nearly a month ago, the file continues to move slowly between departments, triggering concern among officials and residents alike.
At present, only Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada hold million plus city status in Andhra Pradesh. Efforts were made to include Guntur in this list, and preliminary groundwork was completed on January 27. The GMC council approved the merger of 18 surrounding villages and forwarded the resolution to the district collector. Gram sabhas have already been conducted in 11 villages, while the remaining ones are yet to complete the process.
However, the delay has proved costly. The deadline expired on January 31, leaving officials uncertain about the next steps. Adding to the confusion, the proposal reached the District Panchayat Officer only two days ago. With the Centre focusing on population data and a ban in place on boundary changes from January 1, forwarding the remaining village resolutions has become impossible.
If Guntur were to achieve million plus city status, the benefits would be significant. It would open doors to major central government projects and increased funding. Nearly 3,000 acres of government land fall within the proposed merger areas, offering scope for industries and institutions. The Outer Ring Road passing through these villages is another advantage. Proximity to Amaravati further strengthens Guntur’s growth potential.
According to population estimates, Guntur’s current population is close to 9.4 lakh, factoring in migration and urban expansion since the 2011 census. The merged villages would add another 65,000 residents, comfortably crossing the million mark.
Urban analysts believe Guntur becoming a million plus city would boost regional development and employment. However, last minute action and administrative delays now threaten to derail the plan. Whether the proposal can be revived or must wait for another opportunity remains an open question, leaving Guntur’s urban future hanging in the balance.
