State plans expansion of Bengaluru civic limits with Greater Bengaluru Authority spanning 1000 sq.km

The Karnataka government is set to significantly expand the city’s civic boundaries through the creation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), a move that could extend the urban jurisdiction to nearly 1,000 sq. km—up from the current 709 sq. km managed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). This initiative forms part of a broader urban governance overhaul following the Governor’s recent approval of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024.

Also read: BBMP set to be dissolved within 120 days, making way for Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) with multiple corporations 

High-level discussions involving top bureaucrats and the Brand Bengaluru Committee have been underway to finalise the boundaries of the proposed GBA. These discussions follow plans to restructure BBMP by dividing it into three to five smaller municipal corporations to improve administrative efficiency and civic service delivery.

The proposed GBA will include areas lying between the present BBMP and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) jurisdictions. The inclusion of around 25 peripheral villages—now absorbed into Bengaluru’s urban sprawl—will boost infrastructure access and revenue generation.

Under the new governance framework, GBA will serve as the local planning authority, while the BDA will shift to a consultative role. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Planning Committee (BMPC) will retain final approval powers over planning proposals and will have its jurisdiction widened to align with the GBA’s extended area.

The government is also working on redrawing ward boundaries to ensure equitable distribution of civic resources, guided by factors like population density, infrastructure availability, and fiscal capacity.