Bengaluru: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has invited global tenders from consulting agencies for the preparation of a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based master plan for the Greater Bengaluru Local Planning Area, marking a significant step towards structured and technology-driven urban planning for the rapidly expanding city.
The proposed GIS-based master plan aims to clearly demarcate land use across the Greater Bengaluru region, including residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use zones. GBA Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao said the plan would provide clarity on zoning norms and future development patterns. “The master plan will define what constitutes commercial areas, residential areas, and other land-use categories. This clarity is essential for systematic growth and effective governance,” he said.
Planning for rapid urban expansion
Senior officials in the GBA pointed out that Bengaluru’s population is growing exponentially, placing enormous pressure on infrastructure and civic amenities. The GIS-based master plan is expected to address these challenges by providing a comprehensive and scientific framework for future development.
According to officials, the plan will include proposals for acquiring land on the outskirts of the city to support large-scale development projects. These may include the expansion of road networks, development of urban forests, and strengthening of water supply systems to meet future demand. The use of GIS technology will enable planners to analyse spatial data more accurately and make informed decisions on land use, transport corridors, and environmental conservation.
“The city can no longer afford ad-hoc development. A GIS-based master plan will allow us to visualise growth patterns and infrastructure needs in advance,” a senior GBA official said, adding that the plan would also factor in climate resilience and sustainability.
Tender details and timeline
The Greater Bengaluru Authority has made the tender eligibility criteria, scope of work, and detailed terms and conditions available on the Karnataka government’s e-procurement portal. Interested consulting agencies have been invited to review the documents and submit their bids within the stipulated timeline.
A pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for January 9, 2026, at the office of the Chief Town Planner, Greater Bengaluru Authority, located at NR Square in Hudson Circle. The last date for submission of bids is January 10, 2026. Officials said the tight timeline reflects the urgency with which the government wants to initiate the planning process.
Once finalised, the selected consulting agency will be responsible for preparing a comprehensive master plan covering the entire Greater Bengaluru Local Planning Area, which spans around 709 sq km.
Experts welcome the move
Urban planners and civic experts have largely welcomed the GBA’s decision to initiate a GIS-based master plan. Civic evangelist V Ravichandar said the Greater Bengaluru Authority, being the designated local planning authority, is the right institution to take the lead in preparing the master plan.
“Under the 74th Constitutional Amendment, individual municipal corporations are also required to submit their own development plans. These plans then become part of the overall metropolitan plan, which must be aligned with water supply, electricity, transport, and other agencies under the GBA,” he explained.
Ravichandar noted that GIS technology could play a key role in facilitating coordination among multiple civic bodies and parastatal agencies. “The GBA, as a local planning authority, is supposed to synthesise the plans of multiple corporations. GIS can help integrate these plans efficiently. However, the actual planning exercise has to be decentralised at the corporation level before being aggregated at the GBA level,” he said.
Need for a dynamic, rolling plan
While welcoming the initiative, experts have also stressed the importance of keeping the master plan dynamic. Ravichandar said the proposed plan should function as a rolling plan, updated periodically to reflect changing realities on the ground.
“This is definitely a good move, but it should not become a static document. Ideally, the plan should be reviewed and updated every five years. Existing master plans tend to remain unchanged for long periods, making them irrelevant as the city evolves,” he said.
Urban planners argue that Bengaluru’s rapid growth, driven by migration, economic activity, and infrastructure projects, makes it essential to adopt flexible planning mechanisms that can adapt to new challenges and opportunities.
Shifting planning authority landscape
At present, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) functions as the primary planning authority, with powers extending even beyond the limits of the Greater Bengaluru Authority. The BDA has traditionally focused on layout approvals, land development, and revenue generation for the government.
Civic experts believe that with the formation of the GBA, there is a clear need for a separate and comprehensive master plan tailored specifically for the Greater Bengaluru region. “The GBA needs its own plan to guide long-term development. That is why the government has issued a notification for a comprehensive plan covering 709 sq km,” an expert said.
The GIS-based master plan is expected to redefine the planning framework for Bengaluru by integrating land use, infrastructure, environment, and governance under a single, data-driven system.
Conclusion
The invitation of global tenders for a GIS-based master plan signals a shift towards more scientific and coordinated urban planning in Bengaluru. If implemented effectively and updated regularly, the plan could help address long-standing issues related to unplanned growth, infrastructure stress, and environmental degradation. As the city prepares for its next phase of expansion, the success of this initiative will depend on effective execution, inter-agency coordination, and sustained political and administrative commitment.