BBMP enters transition phase as Governor clears Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill

The Hindu

25-04-2025

With Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot granting assent to the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill 2024, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has officially entered a transition period. As a first step, the government will define the boundaries of the Greater Bengaluru area.
The BBMP will continue to function temporarily until the changes outlined in the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act (GBGA) 2024 are completed. The Act clearly specifies transitional provisions.
These provisions ensure continuity during the shift from the earlier legal framework to the newly enacted Act. The provisions state that any rule, order, notification, or appointment made under the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, or the BBMP Act, 2020, will remain in force after the new Act takes effect, provided they are not inconsistent with its provisions.
Existing instruments will be deemed to have been issued under the new Act and will remain valid until amended, replaced, or withdrawn through new measures enacted under the new law. This prevents any legal vacuum and enables the BBMP and related bodies to operate smoothly during the legal transition. It also allows the government to gradually introduce changes under the new Act while preserving governance continuity and administrative stability in Bengaluru's municipal system.
What's next
Experts suggest it may take eight to nine months to implement changes. The Urban Development Department (UDD) will soon begin this process.
The first step is defining the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) area. Currently, the BBMP spans 709 sq km, which will expand under the new structure. V. Ravichandar, a member of the Brand Bengaluru Committee (BBC), said, 'Defining the area for the GBA is the primary step towards implementing the Act.'
Estimating population growth
Mr. Ravichandar added that the UDD will then need to redraw wards based on census blocks. Estimating population growth from 2011 to 2025 is crucial. The last census was conducted in 2011.
Mr. Ravichandar noted, 'A constraint during the creation of the 243 wards was the reliance on Census 2011 data. It's imperative to update this at the census block level to estimate the 2025 population. This ensures new wards are balanced across corporations. Relying solely on 2011 data would render the ward exercise flawed. Updated data, like the latest electoral rolls, can act as proxies for growth indicators across Bengaluru.'
Following the redrawing of wards, corporations will be established, and wards assigned accordingly. The government must consider revenue aspects while allocating wards to ensure balanced property tax collection. The UDD may also determine ward reservations in preparation for elections. Once this is done, a draft notification will be issued, inviting public objections before the final notification.
Upon final notification, the BBMP in its current form will cease to exist.