Karnataka Cabinet Approves Division Of Bengaluru Into 5 Zones

The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, aiming to overhaul the city’s civic administration by dividing it into five distinct zones. The bill, set to be introduced in the state Assembly during the upcoming Monsoon Session, proposes the establishment of a new governing body called the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). This new authority will possess expanded planning and financial powers to streamline governance across the Greater Bengaluru Area.

Under the proposed bill, the GBA will be structured into five zones, each managed by a three-tier system: the Chief Minister at the top, followed by municipal corporations and ward committees. This reorganization is intended to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in addressing the city’s administrative needs. The Chief Minister, along with the Bengaluru Development Minister, will oversee the entire setup.

The move has stirred debate, particularly from the opposition BJP, which views the current administrative framework as a legacy of their tenure. The bill’s introduction revives past attempts to reform Bengaluru’s governance. During Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s previous term, a proposal to split the Bengaluru civic body into three separate entities was approved by the Assembly but ultimately defeated in the Council. In 2019, the BJP chose to implement bureaucratic decentralization under a single corporation instead.

The lack of civic elections in Bengaluru over the past four years has led to numerous petitions pending before both the High Court and the Supreme Court, highlighting ongoing concerns and disputes regarding the city’s governance structure.