Greater Bangalore Area List - Summary
The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is set to take over from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) starting Thursday, May 15, as announced in a government notification on Wednesday. This change is intended to enhance urban governance and tackle the increasing challenges faced by the city, such as infrastructure issues, traffic congestion, and urban sprawl.
The GBA Act, which was enacted by the Karnataka Legislature in February 2024, addresses the long-standing demands for governance reform in Bengaluru, a city facing rapid population growth, overburdened infrastructure, and environmental challenges. In contrast to the BBMP, which manages an area of 709 square kilometers, the GBA was initially designed to extend the city limits to over 1,000 square kilometers, including surrounding villages.
According to the GBA Act, the state government will appoint a chief commissioner, who must hold at least the rank of additional chief secretary. The chief minister, who will preside over the GBA, and the Bengaluru development minister, who will act as vice-chairperson, are expected to play significant roles in the governance process.
The chief commissioner will serve a term of three years. The final version of the Bill eliminated previous provisions that permitted the removal of the officer by a two-thirds majority of the GBA for reasons such as misconduct, neglect, or incapacity, thereby providing a more stable tenure under state oversight.