Despite contributing nearly 40% to Karnataka’s GDP and housing 15 million people, Bengaluru faces persistent issues like water scarcity, traffic congestion, and air pollution — symptoms of a deeper urban governance failure.
These challenges are common across India’s rapidly growing metros, which now number 53 and are expected to reach 71 by 2030, yet remain governed by outdated frameworks suited to smaller towns. The 74th Constitutional Amendment offers little differentiation in governance models, resulting in fragmented authority, weak planning, and poor service delivery in megacities like Bengaluru.
The Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Act, 2024, is the latest attempt to address this. It proposes creating a Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) for integrated planning and dividing the city into up to seven municipal corporations. While the Act introduces a unified municipal cadre and aims for deeper decentralisation, it fails to tackle core issues.
Key shortcomings include:
- Mayors with only 30-month terms, undermining long-term vision.
- No mayor-in-council system or independent budget control.
- No real devolution of powers to local bodies or ward committees.
- Chief Minister-led GBA, centralising control instead of empowering elected city leaders.
- Elimination of Area Sabhas, stifling grassroots participation.
- MLA-headed committees, overshadowing municipal councillors.
Though the GBG Act is a step forward compared to other Indian metros, it remains symbolic without deeper reforms in democratic governance, institutional coordination, and civic accountability.
Read also;