The Governor has approved the “Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill – 2024”, clearing the path for dividing BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) into seven separate municipal corporations. Despite initial opposition in the Legislative Assembly, the bill was later revised with recommendations from a joint selection committee and finally passed in the March session.
Under the new law, an expert committee will be formed to plan BBMP’s reorganization. The bill also proposes the establishment of a Greater Bengaluru Authority to oversee coordinated development across the region. While the law allows for nine corporations, the government is presently inclined to create three or five. Each new corporation may include up to 100 wards. Data collection on boundaries, finance, and administration is underway, a process expected to take at least three months.
Following this, a commission led by a retired judge or senior officer will finalize ward reservations and oversee corporation formation. Elections can only be held once this structure is complete. Though BJP and civic bodies opposed the bill citing constitutional concerns and potential issues similar to Delhi’s MCD split, the Governor stated that the bill was lawful and in the public interest. After seeking clarifications, he signed the bill.
The process now enters the implementation stage, beginning with government notifications and expert appointments. The new legislation is expected to streamline governance and ensure better service delivery across Bengaluru. With the formation of seven municipal corporations, local administration will become more focused, enabling quicker response to public needs.