GREATER BENGALURU GOVERNANCE ACT, 2024

Act No. 36 of 2025

23rd April, 2025

An Act to provide for the core principles, institutions and processes for effective urban governance in the Greater Bengaluru Area to,- (i) establish the Greater Bengaluru Authority for co-ordinating and supervising the development of the Greater Bengaluru Area; (ii) establish not more than seven City Corporations in the Greater Bengaluru Area for effective, participatory and responsive governance; (iii) empower Ward Committees to become basic units of urban governance and facilitate community participation; (iv) integrate and streamline political accountability of all public authorities delivering services in the Greater Bengaluru Area; (v) improve the quality of life of all citizens by instituting a decentralised, participative, efficient and equitable governance framework for Bengaluru; and (vi) provide for matters incidental thereto. WHEREAS, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Pa

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S.1 Short title, extent and commencement

(1) This Act may be called the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024.

(2) It shall extend to the Greater Bengaluru Area as notified by the Government.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may by notification appoint, on this behalf.

S.2 Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

• (1) "Administrator" means any officer appointed by the Government to exercise the powers and perform the functions and discharge duties conferred or imposed on the City Corporation.
• (2) "Association" means an association of body of persons, a trust, society, association or organization duly registered under Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960 (Karnataka Act 17 of 1960) ;
• (3) "Authority" means the Greater Bengaluru Authority created under this Act;
• (4) "Backward Classes" means such class or classes of citizens as may be classified and notified by the Government from time to time for the purposes of reservation of seats in the Corporation;
• (5) "Bio-medical waste" means any waste generated during diagnosis, treatment, immunization or any health services of human beings or animals or in research activities as may be discarded by any medical hospital, nursing home, clinics, pet c
  

S.3 Declaration of the Greater Bengaluru Area

As soon as may be after the date of commencement of the Act, the Government shall, by notification, declare the larger urban area of the City of Bengaluru and such other areas the Government may specify, as the Greater Bengaluru Area:

Provided that the Government may, from time to time, modify the territorial limits of the Greater Bengaluru Area, by notification.

S.4 Civic Authorities in the Greater Bengaluru Area

The following shall be the Civic Authorities in the Greater Bengaluru Area tasked with the powers to carry out the functions specified under this Act:

• (a) the Greater Bengaluru Authority;
• (b) the City Corporations; and
• (c) the Ward Committees.

S.5 Establishment of City Corporations

(1) The Governor shall, having regard to the population of any area, the density of population therein, the revenue generated, the percentage of employment in non-agricultural activities, the economic importance, the infrastructural provisions available in the area and such other factors, establish such number of City Corporations, for such areas as may be defined, for the effective municipal governance of the Greater Bengaluru Area:

Provided that the total number of City Corporations in the Greater Bengaluru Area shall not exceed seven.

Provided further that no area shall be specified as a City Corporation unless:-

• (a) such area contains a population of not less than ten lakhs;
• (b) the density of population in such area is not less than five thousand inhabitants per square kilometer of the area;
• (c) the revenue generated from such area for the local administration in the year of the last preceding census is not less than rupees three hu
  

S.6 Power to alter the boundaries of the City Corporations

The Governor shall, having regard to the population of any area, the density of population therein, the revenue generated, the percentage of employment in non-agricultural activities, the economic importance, the infrastructural provisions available in the area and such other factors, by notification,-

• (a) exclude from a municipal area any local area comprised therein and defined in the notification; or
• (b) include within a municipal area any local area contiguous to such municipal area and defined in the notification; or
• (c) divide any municipal area into two or more municipal areas; or
• (d) unite two or more contiguous municipal areas so as to constitute one municipal area; or
• (e) revise the boundary of two or more contiguous municipal areas:

Provided that before issuing the said notification, the Government shall issue a draft thereof and any affected person may submit the objection in writing to the Government within

S.7 Reconstitution of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and other local authorities

(1) As soon as may be after the date of commencement of this Act, the Governor may, having regard to the provisions of section 3, by notification, constitute such number of new City Corporations comprising of part or complete areas of the local bodies under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike in the Greater Bengaluru Area.

(2) The draft of the notification so issued under sub-section (1) shall be published in the official Gazette giving opportunity for persons likely to be affected for filing their objections and suggestions within a period of thirty days.

(3) After considering the objections and suggestions to the notification issued under sub-section (1) , the Government shall issue a final notification constituting such number of new Corporations specifying areas and boundaries comprising therein.

(4) On the issuance of the final notification under sub-section (3) , the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and such other local Bodies notified under sub-sect

S.8 Relationship between Civic Authorities in the Greater Bengaluru Area

(1) The Civic Authorities in the Greater Bengaluru Area shall exercise their authority in their specific domains as per the powers and functions vested in them under this Act and the rules and regulations made thereunder.

1[(2) The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall discharge such functions as per provisions of this Act.]

(3) The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall discharge the role of coordinator among all the City Corporations and other agencies in the Greater Bengaluru Area.

1. Substituted by Greater Bengaluru Governance (Amendment) Act, 2025, for the following:- "(2) The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall exercise such authority and discharge such functions as per provisions of this Act including with respect to the City Corporations created under this Act."

S.9 Constitution of the Greater Bengaluru Authority

(1) As soon as may be after the date of commencement of this Act not later than one hundred twenty days from the said date, the Government shall, by notification, constitute an Authority for the Greater Bengaluru Area called the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

(2) The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall be a body corporate and shall have perpetual succession and common seal with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property and to contract and may, by its name, sue and be sued.

(3) The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall consist of the following members, namely:-

• (a) The Chief Minister who shall be the Ex-officio Chairperson;
• (b) The Minister in charge of Bengaluru Development, who shall be the Ex- officio Vice-Chairperson;
• (c) The Ministers in the State Government representing the legislature constituencies in the Greater Bengaluru Area - Ex-officio Members;
• (d) The minister in-charge of Urban Development - Ex-officio Member.

S.10 Chief Commissioner of Greater Bengaluru Authority

(1) The State Government shall appoint an officer not below the rank of the Principal Secretary to Government, as the Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

(2) The Chief Commissioner may hold office for a period of three years subject to the pleasure of the Government and may be transferred by the Government, as may be required for the effective administration of the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

(3) The Chief Commissioner shall be the Principal Executive Officer of the Greater Bengaluru Authority and shall, subject to the supervision and control of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, exercise the powers and perform the functions specifically conferred or imposed upon him by or under this Act or by any other law in force for the time being.

(4) Subject to the approval of the Greater Bengaluru Authority and to other restrictions, limitations and conditions imposed by this Act or by any other law for the time being in force, whenever it is expressly

S.11 Officers of the Greater Bengaluru Authority

(1) The Government shall appoint additional officers to assist the Chief Commissioner in carrying out the functions relating to infrastructure, town planning, administration, law, finance, vigilance and such other functions exercised by the Greater Bengaluru Authority under this Act. The Government shall by order determine, from time to time, the salaries and other terms and conditions of service of such officers.

(2) The Greater Bengaluru Authority may have such number of officers of the State Civil Service and All India Services on its cadre as Special or Additional or Joint or Deputy or Assistant Commissioners as the Government deems necessary and on such terms and conditions as the Government may decide.

(3) The Government shall depute a Chief Town Planner of the rank of the Director of Town and Country Planning who shall be subordinate to the Chief Commissioner and with such other officers from the Department of Town and Country Planning with qualification of mas

S.12 Meetings of the Greater Bengaluru Authority

(1) The Chairperson of the Greater Bengaluru Authority shall convene the meetings of the Greater Bengaluru shall meet at least one meeting for every three months.

(2) The Chairperson shall preside over the meeting. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-chairperson shall preside over the meeting and in the absence of the Chairperson and the Vice-chairperson, any other member chosen by the members present from amongst themselves shall preside over the meeting.

(3) The quorum required for the meeting is 1/3rd of the total members of the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

(4) All matters which come up before any meeting of the Authority shall be decided by majority of the votes of the members present and voting and in the event of an equality of votes, the Chairperson of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, or in his absence the person presiding, shall have a second or casting vote.

(5) The Authority shall observe such rules of procedure regarding the transactio

S.13 Constitution of Executive Committee

(1) The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall constitute an Executive Committee to assist in the discharge of its functions in the manner as may be specified in the regulations. The Executive Committee shall consist of the following members, namely:-

• (a) The Minister in charge of Bengaluru Development or any Minister nominated by the Chief Minister, who shall be the Chairperson;
• 1[(a-1) The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Urban Development Department;]
• (b) The Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, who shall be the Member Secretary of the executive committee;
• (c) The Commissioners of the City Corporations in the Greater Bengaluru Area;
• (d) The Commissioner, Bangalore Development Authority;
• (e) The Metropolitan Commissioner, Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority;
• (f) The Commissioner, Directorate of Urban Land Transport;
• (g) The Chairman, Bangalore Water Supply
  

S.14 Functions of the Greater Bengaluru Authority

The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall perform the following functions, namely:-

(1) Administrative Functions: The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall exercise 1[such functions] as decided by the Government including,-

• (a) Finalise the Common Cadre and Recruitment Rules for the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the City Corporations in consultation with the Commissioners of the City Corporations, and submit to the Government for approval;
• (b) Appointment of all Group A (Junior Scale) and Group B officers in accordance with the Common Cadre and Recruitment Rules shall be made by the Chief Commissioner of Greater Bengaluru Authority and for the Group C and D posts, the concerned City Corporation Commissioner;
• (c) The Chief Commissioner, Greater Bengaluru Authority shall be the Disciplinary Authority with respect to all the Officers appointed as per Common Cadre and Recruitment Rules as well as all the officers working on deputation to the G
  

S.15 Formulation and Execution of the major projects in the Greater Bengaluru Area

(1) The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall be responsible to make master plan and mobility plans for the infrastructure development of the Greater Bengaluru Area. Though all roads, drains and other infrastructure including arterial, sub-arterial roads, vehicular tunnels and raja kaluve etc., belong to the City Corporations, the City Corporations shall incorporate the infrastructure development plan prepared by the Greater Bengaluru Authority in their respective action plans and execute them to ensure comprehensive development of the Greater Bengaluru Area.

(2) The City Corporations may entrust any major work to be undertaken from the City Corporation Funds to the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

(3) The Greater Bengaluru Authority may be entrusted by the State Government with the execution of the major infrastructural projects as well as the projects which are spread over more than one City Corporation within Greater Bengaluru Area. The Greater Bengaluru Authority may itse

S.16 Economic Development Agency

(1) The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall within one year of its constitution, establish an Economic Development Agency with the Minister for Bengaluru Development as its chairperson and such other members that the Authority may specify by the Regulations.

(2) The Economic Development Agency may be tasked with the responsibility of attracting investments and employment generation in the Greater Bengaluru Area by building suitable public and private partnership projects.

(3) The Greater Bengaluru Authority may define the powers, functions and duties of the Economic Development Agency from time to time.

S.17 Climate Action Cell

(1) The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall, within one year of its constitution, establish a Climate Action Cell, with the Chief Commissioner as the chairperson, tasked with the responsibility to formulate and implement Bengaluru Climate Action and Resilience Plan and such other plans and strategies for mitigating Greenhouse Gas emissions.

(2) The Climate Action Cell shall spearhead initiatives that ensure regular stakeholder coordination to facilitate timely implementation of actions as laid out in the Bengaluru Climate Action and Resilience Plan.

(3) The Climate Action cell shall be headed by the Special Commissioner (Forest, Environment and Climate Change) of the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

S.18 Sectoral Expert Committees

(1) The Government shall constitute Sectoral Expert Committees consisting of such domain experts as members to advise the Authority in the following sectors, namely:-

• (a) Urban, Regional and Town Planning;
• (b) Infrastructure and Transportation;
• (c) Environment and Climate Change;
• (d) Social Inclusion, Education, Health and Welfare;
• (e) Science and Technology; and
• (f) Information, Education and Communication (IEC) .

(2) Each Sectoral Expert Committee may prepare plans that lay down the strategies of development and identify the major interventions needed to ensure common strategies across the City Corporations in the Greater Bengaluru areas.

(3) Every committee appointed under the sub-section (1) shall conform to any instructions that may from time to time be given to it by the Government and the Government may at any time alter the constitution of any committee so appointed or rescind any such appointmen

S.19 Power of supervision and to issue directions to authorities

(1) The Government shall be entitled to call for periodic reports from such Public Authorities, agencies and departments of the Government discharging municipal functions in the Greater Bengaluru Area, and shall be further entitled to issue instructions and recommendations to those regarding the performance of any of their functions contained in the provisions of their constituent statutes.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, every such direction shall be complied with by the body to whom it is issued. On failure, it shall be competent for the Government to take necessary action to carry out the directions issued above and recover expenses, if any, incurred therefore from the body concerned.

(3) Any dispute which arises between the public authorities and other bodies referred to above in respect of the directions issued to them shall be determined by the Government, whose decision shall be final.

S.20 Finances of Greater Bengaluru Authority

(1) The Greater Bengaluru Authority may receive grants from the State Government and the Central Government to undertake various functions under this Chapter.

(2) The Government shall make a grant to the Greater Bengaluru Authority of a sum equivalent to the establishment and administrative expenses of the Authority.

S.21 Budget

The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall prepare, every year, in such form and at such time as may be prescribed, an annual budget estimate in respect of the next financial year showing the estimated receipts and disbursements of the Authority and shall submit a copy thereof to the Government.

S.22 Annual Report

(1) The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall, after the end of each year prepare in such form and before such date as may be prescribed, a report of its activities during such year and submit to the Government and the Government shall cause a copy of such report to be laid before both Houses of the State Legislature.

(2) The Greater Bengaluru Authority shall also submit a copy of its Annual Report and Budget to the City Corporations in Greater Bengaluru Area.

S.23 Power of Authority to borrow

The Greater Bengaluru Authority may from time to time, subject to the provisions of this Act and to such conditions as may be prescribed by the Government, borrow any sum required for carrying out its functions as provided in this Act.

S.24 Accounts and Audit

(1) The accounts of all receipts and expenditure of the Greater Bengaluru Authority shall be kept in such manner and in such form as may be prescribed.

(2) The Government shall appoint one of its officers as the Greater Bengaluru Authority's Chief Auditor who shall subject to the supervision and control of the Controller of State Accounts conduct an audit of the Greater Bengaluru Authority accounts and for this purpose, he shall have access to the Greater Bengaluru Authority's accounts and to all receipts and expenditure relating thereto and the Chief Commissioner shall furnish to him any information concerning any receipt or expenditure which may be required by him.

(3) Subject to the provisions of any law for the time being in force, the audit of all transactions of receipts and expenditure of the Greater Bengaluru Authority shall be subject to technical guidance and supervision of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and he shall send the annual technical i

S.25 The Authorities of the City Corporation

The following shall be the Authorities of the City Corporation who shall carry out the provisions of the Act, namely:-

• (a) The Mayor;
• (b) The Commissioner;
• (c) The Joint Commissioners;
• (d) The Standing Committees; and
• (e) The Ward Committees.

S.26 Establishment of City Corporations

(1) As soon as may be, after the commencement of this Act, there shall be established for the purposes of this Act, the City Corporations as under section 5.

(2) Save as otherwise provided in this Act or any other law for the time being in force, when an area is excluded from the Greater Bengaluru Area,-

• (i) the rights and liabilities of the City Corporation in such area shall vest in the Government; and
• (ii) Government shall, after consulting the City Corporation, determine what portion of the City Corporation fund and other property of the City Corporation shall vest in the Government for the benefit of the inhabitants of such local area and how the liabilities of the City Corporation shall be apportioned between the City Corporation and the Government.

(3) When a local area is included in the Greater Bengaluru Area, the Government shall decide the City Corporation to which the said local area shall be a part of. However, as far as possi

S.27 Erection and maintenance of boundary marks

It shall be the duty of each City Corporation to cause at its own cost to be erected or setup and there after maintain at its own cost substantial boundary marks of such description and in such position as shall be approved by the Deputy Commissioner of the revenue district having jurisdiction, defining the limits or the altered limits, as the case may be, of the City which is subject to its authority:

Provided that in case of any dispute in this regard, the Government shall decide the same which shall be final.

S.28 Duration of the City Corporations

The City Corporations, shall have a term of five years duration from the date of its first meeting, unless dissolved earlier.

S.29 Delimitation of Wards

(1) For the purposes of election of councillors, each City Corporation shall be divided in to wards on the recommendation of the Delimitation Commission, in such manner that,-

• (a) the population of each of the wards within the City Corporation in the Greater Bengaluru Area shall, as far as practicable, be the same; and
• (b) Wards shall be divided within the constituency of a member of Legislative Assembly and no wards shall be spread over to multiple constituencies.

Explanation: For the purpose of this section, 'population' means the population of the City published as per the relevant figures of the preceding census.

(2) The Government shall constitute a delimitation commission consisting of such number of persons as may be prescribed, to recommend to the Government regarding the manner of division of wards.

(3) The Government shall by order determine,-

• (a) the wards into which each of the City Corporations, for the pur
  

S.30 Constitution of the City Corporation

The City Corporation shall consist of,-

• (a) Such number of elected Councillors representing each ward determined by the Government;
• (b) the Government shall nominate such members from the residents of the City of Bengaluru and such members shall not exceed ten percent of the Councillors:-
  • (i) who are persons having special knowledge and experience in municipal administration or matters relating to health, town planning or education; or
  • (ii) who are social workers:

Provided that, the persons referred to in clause (b) shall not have right to vote in the meetings of the City Corporation.

• (c) the Members of the House of people whose constituencies are within the area of the City Corporation and the Members of the Council of States who are registered as voters in the City Corporation; and
• (d) the Members of Legislative Assembly whose constituencies are within the area of the City Corporat
  

S.31 Oath of allegiance to be taken by Councillors

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Oaths Act, 1969 (Central Act 44 of 1969) every person who is elected as a Councillor shall, before taking his seat, make at a meeting of the City Corporation, an oath or affirmation of his allegiance to the Constitution in the following form namely:-

"I.A.B., having been elected a councillor of this City Corporation do swear in the name of God / solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the