A blueprint outlining Greater Bengaluru’s transformation is almost ready and will soon be presented to the cabinet, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced on Monday. “We are in the final stage of preparing the plan,” he told reporters, highlighting a significant step in reshaping urban administration.
The initiative builds on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s earlier declaration that the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act will come into effect, replacing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) with a new governing body called the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). Shivakumar previously stated BBMP’s re-division will conclude by September 15, setting the stage for GBA’s establishment.
To gear up, Shivakumar and GBA officials visited Delhi in June, meeting the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to exchange ideas on city planning, waste disposal, and building regulations. “Delhi, being vast and historic, faces issues in zoning, waste management, and construction laws,” Shivakumar explained. He emphasized that lessons from Delhi were crucial despite also exploring models in Hyderabad and Chennai.
“If cities aren’t carefully planned, they fail,” he noted, adding that Delhi’s 25- to 30-year strategies offered valuable insights.
Separately, Shivakumar plans to visit New Delhi to secure federal approval for acquiring 428 acres of forest land in Hassan and Tumakuru for the Yettinahole water project. He will meet Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav but clarified the trip isn’t politically motivated. “Visiting the party office is customary for me,” he said.