At present, BBMP spans over 709 square kilometres. (Representative image)
Credit: DH File Photo
Bengaluru: The new Greater Bengaluru Area will be limited to the area now covered by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Urban Development Department (UDD) notified on Thursday. The Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Act, 2024 came into force from Thursday, marking a new administration set up.
While there were rumours that the government may increase the city’s jurisdiction by 200–250 square kilometres by bringing a few 'developed' panchayats on outskirts of Bengaluru into the Greater Bengaluru Area limits since the Act allows the area to go up to 1,000 square kilometres, the notification puts an end to such speculation.
At present, BBMP spans over 709 square kilometres.
The Act also provides a provision to set up as many as seven municipal corporations and sources said that the government would stick to three corporations.
Chief Minister to convene a meeting soon
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Thursday, said that he will convene a meeting soon to decide about the future whereabouts. “As Chief Minister, I will be the head of the Greater Bengaluru Authority. I will soon convene a meeting and we will decide on further actions,” he said, referring to decisions regarding the number of corporations.
Going ahead, the government will have to draw out the boundaries to set up the corporations and until then, the BBMP will function in the existing form. The GBG Act provides a 120-day deadline to establish the Greater Bengaluru Authority, a new entity with which the financial and planning powers will rest. “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 360 of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, the Government hereby declares that the powers and duties conferred under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Act, 2020 shall be continued to be exercised by the respective functionaries until reconstitution of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and other local authorities under the provisions of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024,” a notification by the UDD said.