The residents of Gopalapatnam and Mulagada are ecstatic after the State government passed an order converting the mandals from rural into urban after Cabinet meeting on Saturday.
The residents need not travel 15 to 20 km for their needs to the MRO office in Hanumanthawaka or Seethammadhara, said Visakha (West) MLA P.V.G.R. Naidu (Ganababu).
The three new revenue mandals Gopalapatnam, Mulagada and Maharanipeta will now be merged with Visakha urban revenue office. Earlier, Gopalapatnam, comprising the areas of Venkatapuram, Kaparada, Kancharapalem, Butchirajupalem, Madhavadhara, Gopalapatnam and Marripalem, with over four lakh population was under Visakha rural and will be now part of the urban revenue office.
Similarly, Mulagada, comprising Malkapuram, Mulagada and Gollalapalem with about 1.71 lakh population, has also come under the urban fold, said Mr. Ganababu.
Maharanipeta was part of the urban set-up and now has been reorganised as a separate mandal, he added.
According to Mr. Ganababu, the demand was long-pending and it took over 20 years to get the GO passed. “It was discussed several times, but it was not sanctioned and we are thankful to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for getting it done,” he said.
The MLA stated that it would benefit the residents immensely. “Now we will have five MROs (Mandal Revenue Officers), instead of two to look into the affairs. “Grievances can be addressed much quicker and the residents will be benefited,” he said.