Guntur Set to Become Andhra’s Next Million-Plus City

Guntur city is set to become a million-plus city soon. With the current population around 9.6 lakh, there is a proposal to merge 11 surrounding villages into the Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC). This merger will push the population over 10 lakh, making it eligible for special central government schemes and substantial funds. Its proximity to the capital Amaravati will also aid in faster development.

However, some corporators and members have raised objections to this merger proposal. They express concerns that adding more villages will increase administrative burdens, especially with existing shortages of staff and officials. Suggestions have been made to explore alternative approaches.

The process needs to be completed by the end of December, but criticisms are rising over the last-minute rush. Currently, only Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada are million-plus cities in the state, and Guntur is poised to join this list.