Frustration continues to grow among residents of Secunderabad Cantonment as the long-awaited merger of the Cantonment Board with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation remains stalled indefinitely. While 27 surrounding urban local bodies have already been integrated into GHMC, Secunderabad Cantonment residents feel their area is being deliberately ignored despite repeated assurances from local authorities.
Political Promises Versus Ground Reality
Local MLA Sri Ganesh had assured residents that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was prioritizing the merger, but these promises have yet to materialize into concrete action. The continued delay has left all eight SCB wards without elected representatives since 2021, creating a democratic vacuum that residents say is affecting development and accountability.
Sanki Ravinder Babu, General Secretary of the Cantonment Vikas Manch, expressed the community's bewilderment: "The state government has included 27 areas surrounding the outer ring road in the merger with GHMC, but why has SCB, located in the middle of Hyderabad metropolitan area, been excluded?"
Civic Infrastructure in Dire Straits
The cash-strapped Secunderabad Cantonment Board has consistently failed to maintain basic civic infrastructure, with residents reporting crumbling roads, aging sewage systems, and incomplete development projects. The financial constraints of SCB have directly impacted the quality of life for local residents.
Vinay Kumar, a resident of Ward Number 5, shared a typical example of the Board's inefficiency: "There's an open nala right in front of my house that SCB promised to fix. Two months later, they told us there were no funds available. If the merger happens, all our civic issues will be addressed since GHMC has funds and follows a structured approach."
Residents Pin Hopes on GHMC Takeover
Residents identify two primary benefits they expect from the merger. First, they anticipate that integration with GHMC will allow elections to be held simultaneously with municipal polls, ending the three-year period without elected representation. Second, they believe GHMC's better financial resources and systematic approach will resolve the chronic infrastructure problems plaguing their area.
The continued exclusion of Secunderabad Cantonment from the GHMC merger has become increasingly conspicuous as surrounding areas enjoy improved civic amenities and greater political representation. Residents argue that their location in the heart of Hyderabad makes their exclusion from the city's development plans particularly unjust.
As the wait prolongs, community organizations like Cantonment Vikas Manch are amplifying their demands for immediate action, hoping that political will finally aligns with residents' urgent needs for better governance and infrastructure.
