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The state government's plans to introduce the Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Bill in the budget session have gained momentum after a joint legislature committee submitted its review report in the legislative assembly on Wednesday.

- Press Trust of India

BENGALURU: The committee, chaired by Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad, has recommended restructuring the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) by splitting it into a maximum of seven city corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

"The 13-member committee was tasked with reviewing the Bill, which was initially introduced in July 2024. Following a series of public consultations, the committee identified 76 changes to the proposed legislation before submitting its report to the Assembly Speaker in February. One of the key recommendations includes decentralising the BBMP to enhance governance efficiency and transparency," said an official in the know of the development.

The official quoted the report as stating that each new city corporation should have a minimum population of 1 million and a population density of at least 5,000 people per square km. "The revenue generated within each corporation's jurisdiction should not be less than ₹300 crore per annum, with at least 50% of employment in non-agricultural activities. The restructuring also proposes renaming the newly formed municipal corporations with the common prefix 'Bengaluru,' such as Bengaluru South City Corporation and Bengaluru East City Corporation," the official stated.

Another significant recommendation is extending the tenure of the mayor and deputy mayor to 30 months, with a provision that a no-confidence motion can be moved only after six months. Each corporation will have a mayor, a commissioner, a joint commissioner, standing committees, and ward committees. Additionally, the BBMP and other notified local bodies will cease to exist once the new framework is implemented, according to officials.