Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike head office. The committee wants each city corporation in the Greater Bengaluru Area to be suitably named with a common prefix — Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K
The Karnataka legislature joint review committee, headed by Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad, on the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, has recommended splitting the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into seven corporations in the Greater Bengaluru Area.
The report proposes that each city corporation should cover not less than 10 lakh population. The density should be 5,000 inhabitants per square kilometre.
Mr Arshad, who tabled the report in the legislative Assembly on March 5, said that the revenue generated from the area for the local administration in the year of the last preceding census should not be less than ₹300 crore per year.
The newly-formed city corporation should have 50% employment in non-agricultural activities.
The committee envisages that each city corporation should have a Mayor, a Commissioner, a Joint Commissioner, standing committees, and ward committees.
Each city corporation in the Greater Bengaluru Area should be suitably named with a common prefix — Bengaluru.
Mr Rizwan said the committee recommended a few changes to ensure decentralisation of power, reduce corruption and transparency in governance. He said the population of Bengaluru has gone up from 78 lakh in 2008 to 1.5 crore in 2025.
The committee held 19 meetings with various experts and stakeholders, and incorporated suggestions, the MLA said.
Term of Mayor & Deputy Mayor
The term of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor is proposed to be 30 months, and a no-confidence motion can be moved only after six months from the commencement of their term. The term of the elected council of the city corporation is proposed as five years.
What the committee proposes
The government should issue a notification for establishment of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) within 120 days after the commencement of this Act.
The Greater Bengaluru Area must have civic authorities of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, the City Corporations and the Ward Committees.
On the issuance of the final notification to set up this Act, the BBMP and other local authorities would cease to exist.
The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) would be headed by the Chief Minister as the ex-officio chairperson. The minister in charge of development of Bengaluru would be the ex-officio vice-chairperson.
The ministers in the State Government representing the legislature constituencies in the GBA would be ex-officio members. The Chief Commissioner of the GBA would be the secretary while mayors of the city corporations are members of the GBA, according to the Bill.
The Commissioner of BDA, Chairman of BWSSB, MD of BMTC, MD of BMRCL, MD of Bescom, Deputy Commissioner of districts, the commissioner of police, Bengaluru, Superintendents of Police, CEO of Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority, the MD of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited, the Chief Town Planner, the engineer-in-chief, the director of the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services would be members of the GBA.
The commissioners of the city corporations in the GBA would be members of the GBA. All MPs, and the MLAs and MLCs whose constituencies lie within the GBA, or who reside in the area of the GBA, would be members of the GBA.
The government of Karnataka would appoint the chief commissioner of the GBA, but not below the rank of the principal secretary, for a period of three years, subject to the pleasure of the government.
The chairperson of the GBA would convene meetings of the GBA, at least one meeting for every three months.
The GBA would prepare the budget every year.
Published – March 05, 2025 03:09 pm IST
