The Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed the Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Bill on 10 March 2025. The Bill replaces the BBMP Act, 2021 and divides the BBMP into multiple municipal corporations under a new governance system.
The GBA manages city-wide matters, while the five municipal corporations handle local administration and civic services. The new system started in 2025 and aims to improve governance, public services, and city planning in Bengaluru.
What Is the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act 2024?
The Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Act, 2024 is a new law passed by the Karnataka government to reorganise how India’s third-largest city, Bengaluru, is managed.
For many years, Bengaluru was governed by a single municipal body, the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike). As Bengaluru grew, managing traffic, garbage, roads, and public services became more challenging for a single authority.
The new Act addresses this by dividing the city into smaller administrative units while creating a central authority to coordinate city-wide planning and decision-making.
New Three-Tier Governance Structure (GBA, Corporations, Wards)
The biggest change under the GBG Act is the new three-tier structure. Earlier, BBMP worked on a four-tier model (BBMP, zonal committees, ward committees, area sabhas). The new law makes it simpler with three tiers:
| Tier | Body | Main Role |
| Top | Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) | Plans and coordinates development for the entire region |
| Middle | City Corporations (Five) | Manage day-to-day civic services and administration in their respective areas |
| Local | Ward Committees | Address ward-level issues and promote citizen participation in local governance |
This structure removed the old zonal committees and area sabhas, making the chain shorter and clearer. Each tier has a defined job, so there is less confusion about who is responsible for what.
What Is the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA)?
The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is the top body in the new system. It works at the metropolitan level and acts as the planning and coordinating authority for the entire Greater Bengaluru area.
Key facts about the GBA:
- The Chief Minister of Karnataka leads the authority as its chairperson, and the Deputy Chief Minister serves as the co-chairperson.
- Its members include ministers, MPs, MLAs, and MLCs from Bengaluru, along with the mayors of all five municipal corporations.
- The authority is supported by an Executive Committee, which is led by a minister nominated by the Chief Minister. The Chief Commissioner serves as the committee’s member secretary.
- Its head office is at the Kempegowda Civic Centre, Hudson Circle the former BBMP head office.
The GBA’s main job is to harmonise planning, development, and services across the five corporations. The authority manages city-wide planning and coordinates major services such as roads, water, metro, and waste management across all corporations.
Five New City Corporations of Bengaluru
Under the new governance system, the single BBMP has been replaced by five separate city corporations, each responsible for managing a specific region of Bengaluru:
- Bengaluru Central City Corporation
- Bengaluru North City Corporation
- Bengaluru South City Corporation
- Bengaluru East City Corporation
- Bengaluru West City Corporation
Each city corporation has its own Council, its own Mayor, and an IAS Commissioner, and is further split into administrative zones (about two zones each, around ten in total). These corporations have real autonomy over their own affairs, including finances, property tax collection, and local infrastructure.
Smaller corporations can handle local issues more quickly than one large city-wide body. The law allows up to seven corporations, so the current five-corporation system may change in the future.
Rules for a City Corporation
The Act sets conditions for an area to become a city corporation. In general, it should have a population above 10 lakh, a population density of over 5,000 per sq km, and local revenue of more than ₹300 crore in the last census year. This makes sure each corporation is big enough to function on its own.
What Are Ward Committees and How Do They Work Now?
- Ward Committees are the local-level bodies in Bengaluru’s new governance system.
- Every city corporation is divided into wards, and each ward has a Ward Committee.
- The elected Councillor of the ward leads the committee.
- A Ward Committee usually has around 14 members.
- About 7 members are chosen through a lottery from registered voters who apply.
- This system allows ordinary citizens to take part in local governance.
- It gives residents a chance to share ideas and help improve their neighbourhood.
- People can raise issues such as bad roads, garbage collection, drainage problems, and other local concerns.
- The committee can suggest small development works for the area.
- It also helps monitor civic services and local tax-related matters.
- The aim is to bring the government closer to residents and make local administration more transparent and accountable.
What Happened to BBMP?
One of the biggest changes introduced by the GBG Act is the end of the single BBMP model. Instead of one municipal body governing the entire city, Bengaluru is now managed through a new multi-tier governance structure.
Under the GBG Act, not only BBMP but also several nearby municipal councils and gram panchayats have been merged into the Greater Bengaluru Authority area. So the new system covers a larger Greater Bengaluru area, not just the old BBMP limits.
During the change-over, existing officials were allowed to continue their duties under transitional rules until the new corporations and councils are fully set up, so that services like garbage collection and street maintenance do not stop.
How the GBG Act Affects Bengaluru Residents
Here are the main effects:
- Smaller wards, closer governance: The number of wards has increased and wards have become smaller, so each Councillor looks after fewer people. This is meant to improve local attention.
- Multiple mayors: There is no single Mayor of Bengaluru anymore. Each of the five corporations has its own Mayor.
- Property tax to your corporation: Each corporation now collects its own property tax and manages its own budget.
- Faster local response (the hope): Smaller corporations are expected to fix hyper-local issues — roads, drains, garbage — more quickly.
- Possible jurisdiction change: As boundaries are finalised, people in border areas may move from one corporation to another, so it is wise to confirm your corporation when applying for khata or building plans.
The Act tries to make civic services more local and more accountable, though the real benefit will depend on how well the new bodies work in practice.
Khata Rules Under the GBG Act (A-Khata vs B-Khata)
The Act also brings clearer rules for property records (khata), which matters a lot to home buyers and owners:
- The Act formalises the difference between A-Khata and B-Khata properties.
- Importantly, any property constructed after 30 September 2024 is no longer eligible for a B-Khata.
- The new bodies have stronger powers to enforce property tax, including action against big defaulters.
For buyers, this means it is more important than ever to check the khata status of a property and confirm which corporation’s jurisdiction it falls under before purchase. Always verify current rules on the official portal, since the khata and tax process is still being streamlined.
Understanding Bengaluru’s New Ward Boundaries
Before the new corporations can hold elections, the city’s wards must be redrawn — this is called delimitation. Because Bengaluru moved from one body to five corporations, the old ward map had to be completely reorganised.
A delimitation commission was tasked with dividing the city afresh, with each corporation able to have up to 150 wards. A draft delimitation plan divided the city into the five zones — Central, South, East, West, and North. This process has not been without complaints: some residents and civic groups pointed out odd or fragmented ward boundaries that need fixing. The final ward maps directly decide representation and services for every neighbourhood, which is why this step matters so much.
GBA Elections 2026
Bengaluru has not had elected local representatives since 2020. The GBG Act aims to restore local democracy through elections to the new city corporations.
Points about the elections details:
- Elections to the five city corporations are expected by August 2026.
- Voter rolls were updated, with the government working to complete the exercise by late 2025.
- Once held, the polls will give Bengaluru elected Mayors at the corporation level for the first time in years.
- Each Mayor and Deputy Mayor will have a 30-month term (increased from the earlier one-year term) to give more stability and continuity.
- Until the elections conclude, the corporations function under appointed officers (administrators).
These elections are seen as a big moment, because elected mayors and councils will set local priorities for roads, drainage, garbage, and tax drives.
Why Was the Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Act Brought In?
In 2014, the state set up an expert committee to suggest ways to restructure Bengaluru’s governance. This was later reconstituted as the Brand Bengaluru Committee in 2023, which prepared a draft governance bill.
The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024 was introduced in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on 23 July 2024, to replace the older BBMP Act, 2020. After being studied by a Select Committee and amended, it was passed and came into force in 2025. A Greater Bengaluru Governance (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was later passed to make some clarifications.
The core reason behind all this is that a megacity like Bengaluru — with huge population, traffic, and infrastructure needs — is hard to manage with one single body. Big cities need coordinated planning for transport, water, waste, and land use, while still keeping local services responsive. The GBA model tries to balance these two needs.
Important Changes and Clarifications: the New Governance System
After the original Act, the 2025 Amendment Bill made some important clarifications, including:
- It clarified that the GBA will not interfere in the day-to-day functioning of the city corporations, protecting their autonomy.
- During the debate, some earlier proposals were dropped — for example, the idea of “Area Sabhas” (of all registered voters) and a separate “Greater Bengaluru Security Force” were removed from the final law.
- The Act also added provisions for the GBA to act as the Planning Authority and for a Bengaluru Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC).
These changes were meant to address concerns about too much central control and to keep the new system workable.
Benefits and Concerns of the GBG Act
- Better coordination: One authority (GBA) can align planning across the whole region, so agencies don’t work at cross-purposes.
- Smaller, faster corporations: Local bodies can respond quicker to neighbourhood problems.
- More citizen participation: Lottery-based ward committee members bring ordinary people into governance.
- Clearer roles: A three-tier structure reduces overlap and confusion.
Concerns Raised by Critics
- CM chairing the GBA: Some experts say the Chief Minister heading the body may go against the spirit of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, which favours empowered local self-government.
- Overlap of powers: There may be overlap between the GBA, corporations, and existing agencies like BDA and BWSSB.
- Possible delays: A multi-layer approval structure could sometimes slow down decisions.
- Boundary issues: Some ward and corporation boundaries have been called confusing or illogical.
The real test will be how the system performs once elected councils are in place.
Old BBMP System vs New GBA : What Has Changed?
The Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Act has significantly changed Bengaluru’s administrative structure. The table below compares the earlier BBMP system with the new Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) framework.
| Feature | BBMP (Old System) | GBA (New System) |
| Governance Structure | Four-tier system consisting of BBMP, Zonal Committees, Ward Committees, and Area Sabhas | Three-tier system consisting of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, City Corporations, and Ward Committees |
| Top Governing Body | Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) | Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) |
| Municipal Administration | Managed by a single municipal corporation | Managed by multiple city corporations |
| Number of Corporations | One corporation for the entire city | Up to seven corporations can be created |
| Zonal Committees and Area Sabhas | Available under the BBMP framework | Not provided under the GBA framework |
| Commissioner’s Approval Process | Commissioner required the Mayor’s approval before entering into contracts | Commissioner requires prior approval from the State Government |
| Mayor’s Term | Approximately 1 year | 2.5 years (30 months) |
| Tax Collection System | Centralised under BBMP | Decentralised across city corporations |
| Decision-Making | Concentrated within a single civic body | Shared among multiple corporations with city-wide coordination by the GBA |
| Local Governance Focus | City-wide administration through one corporation | Greater focus on local administration through smaller corporations |
Which Areas and Agencies Come Under the GBA?
A common question is which parts of Bengaluru and which agencies fall under the new system. Here is a simple picture:
- Expanded area: The Greater Bengaluru area is larger than the old BBMP, taking in surrounding municipal councils and some gram panchayats. Growing areas like Electronic City and other peripheral zones come under the expanded GBA jurisdiction.
- Five corporations: The whole area is divided among the five city corporations, each handling its own zones and wards.
- Coordination with big agencies: Major civic agencies — such as the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), BMTC, and Namma Metro — are expected to align their work with the GBA’s coordinated planning, so projects fit together better.
This wider coverage is meant to make sure that fast-growing outer areas also get proper planning and services, instead of being left out. Because boundaries are still being finalised, people in newly added or border areas should confirm which corporation they fall under for any civic work.
What Should Bengaluru Residents Do Now?
With the system changing, residents can take a few simple steps to stay ready and avoid confusion:
- Find your corporation and ward: Check which of the five corporations and which ward your home falls under, especially if you live in a border or newly added area.
- Confirm before property work: When applying for khata, building plan sanction, or property transfer, confirm your corporation’s jurisdiction at the time of filing, since boundaries are still being finalised.
- Check your khata status: If you are buying property, verify whether it is A-Khata or B-Khata, and remember that properties built after 30 September 2024 are not eligible for B-Khata.
- Pay property tax to the right body: Make sure your property tax goes to your new corporation, and keep your receipts.
- Apply for your ward committee: Since half the ward committee members are chosen by lottery from registered voters, interested citizens can apply to take part in local governance.
- Watch for election announcements: Keep an eye out for the corporation elections expected by August 2026 so you can vote for your local representatives.
Taking these steps helps you stay on the right side of the new rules and make the most of the more local system.
Conclusion
The Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Act, 2024 is the biggest change to Bengaluru’s city administration in years. By replacing the single BBMP with the Greater Bengaluru Authority, five city corporations, and ward committees, it tries to make governance more coordinated at the top and more local at the bottom.
For residents, the key takeaways are simple: there are now five corporations instead of one, multiple mayors, smaller wards, stricter khata and tax rules, and elections expected by August 2026 that will finally bring back elected local leaders. Whether the reform truly improves roads, water, and garbage will depend on how well the new bodies work together but the structure is now firmly in place.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Act 2024?
It is a Karnataka law that replaces the single BBMP with a three-tier system — the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), five city corporations, and ward committees — to improve how Bengaluru is governed.
2. Is BBMP abolished under the GBG Act?
Yes. The Act dissolves the old BBMP and reorganises Bengaluru, along with some surrounding local bodies, under the new Greater Bengaluru Authority and five city corporations.
3. How many city corporations are there now in Bengaluru?
There are five city corporations — Central, North, South, East, and West. The Act allows up to seven, and the five-corporation model is described as an interim setup.
4. What is the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA)?
The GBA is the top coordinating body, chaired by the Chief Minister, that handles planning and coordination for the whole Greater Bengaluru region across the five corporations.
5. Who heads the GBA and the city corporations?
The Chief Minister chairs the GBA (with the Deputy CM as co-chair). Each city corporation has its own elected Mayor and an IAS Commissioner.
6. When are the GBA / city corporation elections?
Elections to the five city corporations are expected by August 2026. Until then, the corporations run under appointed administrators.
7. How does the GBG Act affect property owners and khata?
The Act formalises A-Khata vs B-Khata, and properties built after 30 September 2024 are not eligible for B-Khata. Each corporation collects its own property tax, and owners should confirm their corporation’s jurisdiction.
8. What are Ward Committees under the new system?
Ward Committees are the local tier, chaired by the elected Councillor. Around half the members are chosen by lottery from registered voters, to boost citizen participation.
9. Why was BBMP replaced by the GBA model?
Because a single body was seen as too big to manage Bengaluru’s rapid growth. The new model adds a coordinating authority on top and smaller corporations below for faster local service.
10. What is the main criticism of the GBG Act?
Critics say the Chief Minister chairing the GBA may weaken local self-government under the 74th Amendment, and warn of overlapping powers and possible delays.
11. Does the GBG Act increase the number of wards?
Yes. Wards have become smaller and more numerous (each corporation can have up to 150 wards), after a fresh delimitation exercise.
12. Is there still one Mayor of Bengaluru?
No. There is no single Mayor anymore. Each of the five corporations has its own Mayor and Deputy Mayor, each serving a 30-month term.
13. What is ward delimitation and why does it matter?
Delimitation is the redrawing of ward boundaries. It decides each area’s representation and services, and must be completed before corporation elections.
14. Does the GBG Act cover areas beyond old BBMP limits?
Yes. The Greater Bengaluru area is larger, as some surrounding municipal councils and gram panchayats were merged under the GBA.
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