GBA likely to expand as Deputy CM D K Shivakumar bats for inclusion of developed panchayats

Bengaluru: The jurisdiction of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) — which is currently the same as the now-dissolved Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) — is likely to be expanded, albeit in a phased manner.

During his visit to various parts of south-east Bengaluru on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said a meeting of elected representatives has been convened on Friday to study the pros and cons of bringing developed panchayats under the GBA limits. 

“A large part of Electronics City, Bommasandra, areas beyond Whitefield and Yelahanka, as well as parts of Magadi Road, have already witnessed significant urban growth,” he said, adding parts of the Anekal assembly constituency will also be brought under the GBA limits in the future. 

He pointed out that the collection of garbage in areas that fall just outside the GBA boundary is a challenge. “We have to fix accountability. Bringing these areas under the GBA is a proposal we will discuss seriously. A committee under the leadership of Lokayukta Justice BS Patil is preparing a report on this,” Shivakumar said.

The government, he added, is also planning to convene a meeting with representatives from IT and BT companies.

When asked about the approaching deadline for pothole filling, he said, "Officials have been assigned responsibilities, and they are doing their job. In some places, we are asphalting entire stretches of roads. The rains, however, are affecting the schedule.”

Conference in B'luru on Oct 30 

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday said Union Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will chair a meeting of urban development ministers from southern states in Bengaluru on October 30.

Speaking to reporters, he said the state government would submit a memorandum to Khattar, seeking financial support for the development of Bengaluru.