The Karnataka Cabinet on Monday approved the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, which aims at restructuring the civic administration of the capital city by dividing it into five zones. The bill is likely to be tabled in the state Assembly during the Monsoon Session starting Tuesday, sources told.

The draft bill suggests the formation of a new body called the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). This body will have expanded planning and financial authority. The bill outlines the creation of five zones under the GBA, which will be governed by a three-tier structure: the Chief Minister at the top, followed by municipal corporations, and ward committees.

According to experts, the proposed legislative move is designed to address and improve governance across the Greater Bengaluru Area through a more structured and efficient system.

The whole set-up will be chaired by the Chief Minister and the Bengaluru Development minister.

However, the opposition BJP regards the current administrative setup as a legacy of their tenure. The debate surrounding this proposed bill recalls past efforts to reform Bengaluru's governance.

During Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's previous term, a proposal was made to divide the Bengaluru civic body into three separate entities.

Although this proposal received approval in the Assembly, it was ultimately defeated in the Council. In 2019, the BJP opted for a different approach, choosing to pursue 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 High Court and the Supreme Court, reflecting ongoing concerns and disputes about the city's governance structure.

Source: India Today