BBMP restructuring gains momentum as legislative committee proposes major reforms

Bengaluru's long-awaited civic administration overhaul moved closer to realization with a legislative committee recommending significant changes to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The 13-member joint house committee of the Karnataka legislature submitted its report on the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, in the assembly, outlining a roadmap for improved urban governance.

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The report proposes dividing BBMP into a maximum of seven independent city corporations, each serving at least 10 lakh residents with a population density of 5,000 per square kilometer. These corporations would be named after Bengaluru’s geographic divisions, such as Bengaluru South City Corporation and Bengaluru Central City Corporation. A new supervisory body, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), is suggested to oversee coordination among the corporations.

Key governance reforms include extending the mayoral and deputy mayoral tenure to 30 months, appointing city commissioners for three years, and setting a five-year term for mini-corporations. The GBA will be chaired by the chief minister, with the Bengaluru development minister as vice-chairperson and city mayors as members. Heads of agencies like BWSSB, BDA, and BMRCL will serve as ex-officio members.

The committee also emphasizes decentralization to curb inefficiencies and corruption, advocating for ward committees in each corporation. Following extensive consultations with experts and stakeholders, the report now awaits legislative debate, marking a crucial step in Bengaluru’s civic transformation.