The BBMP Era Ends: Bengaluru Transitions to the GBA

The Karnataka government has officially replaced the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) with the newly established Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) as the city’s primary civic body, following the enactment of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024.

The transition came into effect on 15 May 2025, after the bill was passed by both houses of the state legislature and received the Governor's assent. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who announced the change, will serve as the Chairman of the GBA.

The GBA will oversee multiple municipal corporations, each led by an elected Mayor responsible for managing specific zones within Bengaluru. These corporations will operate under the central GBA to ensure coordinated urban planning, infrastructure development, and service delivery across the metropolitan area.

The new authority integrates key transport and development bodies, including the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). It also incorporates functions from the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority to streamline mobility and transport planning across the city.

Although the GBA was initially expected to expand Bengaluru’s jurisdiction from 709 sq. km to over 1,000 sq. km by including surrounding villages, the government has temporarily put these expansion plans on hold, retaining BBMP’s current geographical limits for the time being.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.