BENGALURU
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has initiated steps to prepare a Revised Master Plan 2041 for areas outside the jurisdiction of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), marking a strategic shift towards planning the city’s expanding periphery.
The BDA issued a tender notification on April 1 to begin the process. The move follows the transfer of planning powers within GBA limits to the municipal body, effectively ending BDA’s role in core city planning. The agency will now focus on nearly 500 sq km of land beyond GBA limits.
Officials said this vast expanse includes large tracts of revenue land, which are expected to play a key role in Bengaluru’s future urban growth. The tendering process is likely to be completed within two months, after which work on the master plan will commence.
The proposed plan will focus on optimising land use, with an emphasis on converting revenue lands into residential, commercial, and mixed-use zones. The initiative aligns with efforts to decentralise development and ease pressure on the already saturated core city.
Planners believe this approach could promote balanced urban expansion while improving infrastructure planning in emerging areas. However, experts stress that coordination between BDA and GBA will be crucial to ensure seamless development.
Senior BDA officials noted that while their role within GBA limits has reduced, coordination will continue as several infrastructure projects may span both jurisdictions.
The dual-planning model, with BDA focusing on peripheral regions and GBA managing the urban core, is expected to shape Bengaluru’s long-term growth, provided both agencies work in close alignment to avoid fragmented development.
