The Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024 officially comes into force today, marking a major step toward restructuring municipal governance in the city.
The Act paves the way for creating up to seven municipal corporations to govern the expanding Greater Bengaluru region, although implementation will be phased. Until the new corporations are formally constituted, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will continue to operate under the soon-to-be-formed Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), according to the Urban Development Department.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the department confirmed, “A notification has been issued by the State Government on May 14 notifying May 15 as the appointed date for the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024 under Section 1(3) of the Act.” A further notification will reclassify the current BBMP jurisdiction as the “Greater Bengaluru Area.”
All existing powers and responsibilities under the BBMP Act, 2020, will remain with current officials until the provisions of the new law are fully operational, the government clarified. This continuation is enabled under Section 7(5) read with Section 360 of the 2024 Act. The legislation, passed recently by the Karnataka legislature amid opposition from the BJP, introduces sweeping changes to how Bengaluru is managed. Apart from enabling decentralisation, it also provides for the creation of a central coordinating authority—the Greater Bengaluru Authority. The GBA will be chaired by the Chief Minister, with the Bengaluru Development Minister serving as the vice-chairperson. The Act also extends the term of mayors and deputy mayors to 30 months, aimed at improving administrative stability.
The move signals the government’s intent to streamline urban governance in one of India’s fastest-growing metropolitan regions.
