A major shift in the governance of Karnataka’s capital has begun, with the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) officially replacing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) from September 2, 2025. The move, enabled by the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, marks one of the most significant civic reforms in Bengaluru’s history.
Why the Change Was Needed
The BBMP was formed in 2007 by merging the old Bangalore Mahanagara Palike with seven surrounding city municipal councils and a town panchayat. Over the years, it grew into a vast body governing more than 243 wards and a population exceeding 12 million. Critics argued that such a mammoth structure became unwieldy, with frequent complaints about poor waste management, crumbling infrastructure, delays in civic works, and lack of accountability.
Successive governments explored reforms, but the idea of breaking Bengaluru into smaller corporations with a central coordinating body gained momentum only in 2023–24. The Brand Bengaluru Committee, set up by the state, recommended a London-style authority model where multiple local bodies function under an apex metropolitan platform. This eventually shaped the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024.
Legal Transition and Structure
The Karnataka Assembly passed the Bill in March 2025, with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot giving assent in April. The Act came into force on May 15, 2025, and a government notification shortly after announced the constitution of the GBA and five new city corporations — North, South, East, West, and Central Bengaluru.
The GBA is chaired ex officio by the Chief Minister, with the Deputy Chief Minister as Vice-Chair. It includes 75 members, comprising state ministers, MPs, MLAs, mayors, and heads of key civic agencies. An Executive Committee headed by the Bengaluru Development Minister manages day-to-day coordination.
Each city corporation is now headed by an elected Mayor and an IAS Commissioner, replacing the single BBMP structure. Unlike BBMP’s four-tier model, the new law abolishes zonal committees and area sabhas, streamlining it to three tiers: GBA, city corporations, and ward committees.
Offices and Jurisdiction
The GBA headquarters has been established at the historic Kempegowda Civic Centre, Hudson Circle — formerly the BBMP head office. Each of the five corporations is functioning out of temporary zonal offices until new infrastructure is readied.
| Office | Location |
|---|---|
| Greater Bengaluru Authority HQ | Civic Centre (Hudson Circle), Bengaluru |
| Bengaluru Central Corp. | Hudson Circle Annex |
| Bengaluru North Corp. | Yelahanka Zonal Office |
| Bengaluru East Corp. | Mahadevapura Zonal Office |
| Bengaluru West Corp. | RR Nagar Zonal Office |
| Bengaluru South Corp. | Jayanagar Zonal Office |
Roles and Responsibilities
The GBA functions as a planning and coordinating body for the metropolitan region. Its focus is to integrate city-wide development, while allowing local corporations to manage ward-level services.
Agencies such as the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), BMTC, and Namma Metro will now align their plans with the GBA. Major infrastructure — flyovers, Metro expansion, solid waste management, water projects — will be reviewed and approved at the GBA level.
Meanwhile, the five corporations will handle local services such as road maintenance, garbage collection, health, sanitation, and ward-level works. An August 2025 amendment to the Act clarified that the GBA cannot override municipal autonomy, ensuring that mayors and corporators retain decision-making powers in line with the 74th Constitutional Amendment.
Key Timeline
July 2024: Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill introduced in Assembly
March 2025: Bill passed in both Houses
April 24, 2025: Governor grants assent
May 15, 2025: Act comes into force
May 17, 2025: Government notifies constitution of GBA and five corporations
Aug 20, 2025: Amendment clarifying GBA’s role passed
Aug 26, 2025: 75-member GBA notified; M. Maheshwar Rao appointed Chief Commissioner
Sept 2, 2025: BBMP officially dissolved; GBA and corporations begin functioning
Public and Political Response
The state government has framed the reform as a step toward “One Vision, One Leadership”, claiming decentralisation will make governance faster and more accountable. Smaller corporations, they argue, can respond better to hyperlocal needs in areas like Whitefield, Jayanagar, and Yelahanka.
Citizen groups have reacted cautiously. Whitefield Rising, for instance, welcomed the creation of focused local corporations. However, many activists, including civic campaigner Prakash Belawadi, announced plans to legally challenge the Act, arguing it undermines constitutional provisions for municipal self-governance.
Opposition BJP leaders have strongly criticised the move, calling it “unconstitutional” and alleging that fragmenting Bengaluru only serves political interests. They also pointed out that the city has gone five years without elected corporators, and this transition could further delay elections.
Comparisons with Global Models
Supporters of the reform often point to the Greater London Authority, which coordinates multiple boroughs under an elected Mayor of London. Similarly, the Delhi NCR model integrates services across municipal corporations and regional agencies. Bengaluru’s GBA, however, is unique in that it is chaired directly by the Chief Minister rather than an independently elected metropolitan head — a feature that has raised concerns about excessive centralisation.
Challenges Ahead
The biggest challenge now is delimitation of wards. The city must be divided afresh, with each corporation handling up to 150 wards. A delimitation commission has been tasked with completing this exercise by November 2025.
Another hurdle is staffing and resource allocation. The old BBMP’s employees, assets, and liabilities must be distributed among the five corporations. Ensuring continuity of services like garbage collection and street maintenance during the transition is critical.
Civic elections, long overdue since 2020, are another priority. Voter rolls are being updated, and the government has set a deadline of December 2025 to complete the exercise. Elections to the five corporations are expected by early 2026, which will finally restore elected local governance to Bengaluru.
Impact on Citizens
For ordinary Bengalureans, the change is expected to bring both opportunities and uncertainties. Local issues — potholes, garbage clearance, ward-level facilities — may see quicker redressal under smaller corporations. However, larger concerns like Metro connectivity, water shortages, and flooding will depend on how effectively the GBA can coordinate multiple agencies. Property taxes, utility bills, and local civic offices will now be managed by the respective corporations, which could cause initial confusion. The state government has promised a public awareness campaign to ease this transition.
What Lies Ahead
With the GBA in place, Bengaluru has entered a new phase in its urban governance journey. The success of the model will depend on how well it balances local autonomy with metropolitan coordination. If executed well, the reform could pave the way for faster infrastructure delivery and more accountable civic management. If not, critics warn it may merely add another bureaucratic layer between citizens and their services.
Either way, the dissolution of the BBMP and the rise of the Greater Bengaluru Authority mark a turning point for India’s tech capital — one that will be closely watched by other metros facing similar governance challenges.
