• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Bengaluru News: The Karnataka government is currently considering the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024. This proposed legislation aims to create a new governing body, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), with enhanced planning and financial powers for the city.

The draft Bill suggests establishing five to 10 corporations under the GBA, which would have a three-tier governance structure. At the top would be the Chief Minister, followed by municipal corporations and ward committees. The GBA would be co-chaired by the Bengaluru development minister, four other ministers, all city MLAs, and heads of key city agencies like the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).

ALSO READ: Bengaluru Power Cut Today: Koramangala, MG Road And More To Face 8-Hour Outage | Check Affected Areas

Experts familiar with the Bill suggest it may be tabled during the current monsoon session of the state legislature, but the debate could be postponed. Tabling the Bill now could give the Congress government more time to implement the GBA, according to a source within the ruling party, as quoted by News 18 report. Alternatively, if the Bill is not tabled, the Karnataka government would need to conduct Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections in October alongside other state elections, which the government reportedly prefers to avoid.

The draft Bill proposes that the GBA will oversee an area of about 1,400 square kilometres, aligning with the current BDA jurisdiction. This is significantly larger than the 709 square kilometres currently covered by the BBMP. The Bill also suggests increasing the number of wards from 225 to 400, with each corporation having a mayor-in-council with up to 12 members, replacing the current standing committee system.

Experts indicate that the GBA's development focus will primarily be on the southern corridor, especially towards the airport, as well as along the airport road and into Yelahanka. Areas like Jigani and Bommasandra are also expected to expand. However, the eastern part of Bengaluru is said to have limited expansion potential. To the west, areas along Tumkur Road and nearby regions, connected by the metro line, have reached Nelamangala, which is outside the BBMP limits.

ALSO READ: Bengaluru: Tattoo Artist Faces Action For Posting F**K The Police Tattoo On Social Media

Despite demands from senior Congress leaders to include areas like Tumkur, Chikkaballapura or Ramanagara within the GBA, officials have clarified that this is not currently proposed. They argue that such an expansion would undermine the GBA's purpose as a regional governance mechanism for Bengaluru, as it would cover a vast area of 3,000 to 4,000 square kilometres.