Hyderabad: GHMC Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi led a delegation of corporators on a GHMC Rajkot visit to study civic best practices at the Rajkot Municipal Corporation in Gujarat on Wednesday and Thursday.
The delegation included Deputy Mayor Mothe Srilatha Shobhan Reddy and several GHMC corporators. During the visit, senior RMC officials made detailed presentations on governance models, administrative efficiency, and field-level civic practices.
Officials briefed the GHMC team on sanitation systems, solid waste management, civic service delivery, e-governance initiatives, urban greenery, environmental protection, and long-term development planning. Subsequently, the corporators conducted field visits across Rajkot to examine these practices first-hand.
The delegation observed the absence of flex banners and hoardings across the city, which contributed to a clutter-free urban environment. Members also noted the systematic installation of tree guards for saplings and protective grills around electrical transformers to improve public safety.
A key focus of the discussions was Rajkot’s household waste collection model. Unlike Hyderabad, where Swachh autos collect a separate monthly user charge, Rajkot integrates the solid waste fee into the property tax system.
GHMC Rajkot visit highlights waste fee model and urban safety
Under Rajkot’s system, authorities levy an annual solid waste charge of ₹350 on residential properties and ₹730 on commercial establishments along with property tax. GHMC corporators identified the model as a key best practice and studied its feasibility for adoption in Hyderabad.
The delegation noted that in some areas, including sanitation operations and the use of facial attendance systems for sanitation workers, GHMC practices were comparable or better than those in Rajkot.
After concluding the Rajkot leg of the tour, the GHMC team proceeded to Ahmedabad for further field-level studies on urban best practices. The corporators will submit a detailed report to the GHMC after completing the study tour, officials said.
