The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is set to implement a major administrative overhaul with the launch of a restructured 10-zone system. GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg has announced that the new zonal framework will become fully operational from January 1, 2026.
New Administrative Structure for Better Governance
During a video conference with zonal commissioners on Monday, Commissioner Garg issued detailed instructions for the transition. The state government had previously approved the reorganisation plan, which expands the existing 8 zones into 10. Garg emphasized that all necessary zonal offices, along with the required officers and staff, have already been set up according to the new structure.
He directed that all ten zonal offices must begin functioning from the start of 2026. A key instruction was the systematic transfer of files and records to their respective new zones to prevent any confusion or misplacement. Officers and staff are mandated to discharge their duties from their assigned zonal offices from that date forward.
Public Awareness and Service Delivery
Commissioner Garg instructed the zonal commissioners and officials to ensure that ward secretaries actively educate the public. Citizens need to be made aware, secretariat-wise, about which wards and secretariats now fall under each zonal office's jurisdiction.
The commissioner stressed that the public should take note of this new structure. All welfare schemes, infrastructure facilities, and civic services provided by the GVMC will henceforth be accessed through the respective zonal offices. This move is aimed at bringing administration closer to the people and improving the efficiency of service delivery.
Breakdown of the 10 New Zones
The reorganisation defines the following zones with their respective wards and areas:
- Bhimunipatnam Zone: Wards 1, 2, 3, 4. Area: 58.884 sq km.
- Madhurawada Zone: Wards 5, 6, 7, 8, 98. Area: 95.7 sq km.
- East Zone: Wards 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28. Area: 48.5 sq km.
- North Zone: Wards 14, 24, 25, 26, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55. Area: 19.9 sq km.
- South Zone: Wards 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41. Area: 9.7 sq km.
- West Zone: Wards 40, 52, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 89, 90, 91, 92. Area: 72.9 sq km.
- Pendurthi Zone: Wards 88, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97. Area: 75 sq km.
- Gajuwaka Zone: Wards 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 86, 87. Area: 108.1 sq km.
- Aganampudi Zone: Wards 77, 78, 79, 85. Area: 102.8 sq km.
- Anakapalli Zone: Wards 80, 81, 82, 83, 84. Area: 41.1 sq km.
This detailed zoning is designed to streamline municipal operations across Visakhapatnam's diverse and expanding urban landscape. The GVMC's initiative marks a significant step towards decentralised governance, aiming to make civic administration more responsive and accessible to the city's residents.
