From Bangalore Development Authority to Greater Bengaluru Authority: A power shift in city planning

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Friday vested the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) with sweeping new powers, making it the primary entity to plan for the city.

The amendment ends the dominance of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), which had control over almost everything related to land, including preparation of master plans, zoning regulations, and approval of land use changes or development plans.

Going forward, property owners and builders will head to the GBA headquarters and not to the BDA.

Earlier this week, DH reported about the proposal under the title: New order: Greater Bengaluru Authority to take over from BDA.

On Friday, the government issued a notification under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning and Certain Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, after receiving the Governor’s assent. As per the amendment, the local planning area of Greater Bengaluru, spread across about 721 sqkm, will come under the GBA.

The GBA will henceforth exercise all powers of a local planning authority, including preparing master plans, granting building permissions, and enforcing planning regulations.

The notification also states that all existing approvals, notifications, byelaws, commencement certificates, and master plans issued by the BDA or the erstwhile Bengaluru City Local Planning Authority will automatically be transferred to the GBA.

The GBA will also take over ongoing and future legal cases relating to planning in the Greater Bengaluru Area.

The BDA will continue as a planning body for areas outside the GBA limits, which have now been reduced to about 400 sqkm from 1,200 sqkm. It may also focus on development projects such as the long-pending Peripheral Ring Road and formation of new layouts.

A BDA official said it has sent a request to the government to expand its jurisdiction to cover fast-developing areas outside the GBA limits.