Karnataka Cabinet Approves Proposal to Divide Bengaluru into Five Zones

The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, which aims to restructure the city's administration into five zones. This bill will be introduced in the state Assembly during the Monsoon Session starting Tuesday, as reported by India Today.

The draft bill proposes creating a new body called the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). This authority will have expanded planning and financial powers. The city will be divided into five zones, each governed by a three-tier structure: the Chief Minister at the top, followed by municipal corporations, and then ward committees. This restructuring aims to improve governance across Greater Bengaluru by introducing a more organised and efficient system.

Opposition and Past Reform Efforts

The BJP opposes these changes, viewing the current administrative setup as part of its legacy. This debate recalls previous efforts to reform Bengaluru's governance. During Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's earlier term, a bill was proposed to split the civic body into three separate entities. Although this bill passed in the Assembly, it was ultimately defeated in the Council. In 2019, the BJP opted for bureaucratic decentralisation under a single corporation.

The absence of civic elections in Bengaluru over the past four years has led to numerous petitions pending before both the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court. These legal challenges reflect ongoing disputes about the city's governance structure. The term of the BBMP's elected council expired in September 2020. The BJP had expanded the number of wards to 243 in July 2022, a move contested by Congress.

If passed, the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill will create up to 10 municipal corporations and increase the number of wards from 225 to 400. Each corporation will have a Mayor-in-Council consisting of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and 10 other members who will hold executive powers and be collectively responsible for governance.

This legislative move reflects a significant shift in how Bengaluru's administration will be structured and managed moving forward. The proposed changes aim to address longstanding issues and improve governance across Bengaluru, which has struggled with administrative inefficiencies and delays in elections.

In 2023, the Karnataka High Court set a 12-week deadline for completing the delimitation process. The ongoing debates over decentralisation and multiple corporations have contributed to delays in scheduling elections.