Bengaluru: The long-awaited restructuring of Bengaluru’s civic administration took a major step forward with a joint house committee recommending dividing Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into a maximum of seven smaller city corporations, a 30-month tenure for mayors and deputy mayors, a three-year term for chief commissioner and city commissioners, and a five-year term for mini-corporations.
A 13-member joint house committee of the Karnataka legislature tabled its report on the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, in the legislative assembly Wednesday
According to the report, each corporation should serve a minimum population of 10 lakh, with a density of at least 5,000 inhabitants per sqkm to improve governance and efficiency. Each corporation should be prefixed with Bengaluru — such as Bengaluru South City Corporation and Bengaluru Central City Corporation. The committee has proposed establishing Greater Bengaluru Authority to supervise and coordinate the functioning of these corporations.
With the report tabled, the bill is now set for discussion in the assembly, paving the way for a landmark transformation in Bengaluru’s civic administration.
Committee chairman Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad said, “BBMP was established in 2008 when Bengaluru’s population was around 75 lakh. Now, in 2025, the population has surged to 1.5 crore, with nearly 1 crore vehicles on the roads. BBMP spans 786sqkm, but its administration is managed by a single mayor with a mere 11-month tenure alongside a commissioner.”
He pointed out that BBMP functions independently from utility agencies such as Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company, and Metro, leading to a lack of coordination. “There is centralisation of power in BBMP, but there’s rampant corruption and no transparency. Without decentralisation, corruption will increase. That is why we have recommended restructuring BBMP into multiple corporations. We have proposed an extended mayoral tenure to improve coordination across agencies,” Arshad added.
The chief minister will chair GBA, while the Bengaluru development minister will serve as ex-officio vice-chairperson. Ministers representing constituencies within GBA will also be ex-officio members. The GBA chief commissioner will act as secretary, and mayors of the newly formed city corporations as members. Heads of key civic bodies, including BDA, BWSSB and BMRCL, will be ex-officio members as well.
The committee recommends that the government issue a notification within 120 days of the Act’s commencement to formally establish GBA. The committee has suggested formation of ward committees in each corporation to strengthen grassroots urban governance.
Arshad said the committee conducted 20 meetings, consulted urban-governance experts, civil-society representatives, social organizations, and held a public hearing. After thorough deliberations, the panel finalized its recommendations, including GBA’s role and governance structure. “Now, it is up to the legislature to debate and consider the bill for passage,” he added.
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GBA TO OVERSEE ALL MINI-CORPNS
• BBMP restructuring for better governance, reducing corruption, improving transparency
• Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to oversee new mini-corporations
• Ward committees proposed to strengthen local governance
• BBMP and other notified local bodies will cease to exist after the final notification on establishing GBA
• GBA members include top civic, transport, police, utility officials, along with city corporation commissioners.
• All MPs, MLAs, and MLCs from or residing in GBA will be members.
• GBA chairperson will hold meetings quarterly and prepare an annual budget
* BBMP established in 2008 when Bengaluru’s population was around 75 lakh
* In 2025, population is 1.5 crore, with 1 crore vehicles