The Karnataka government, on July 19, issued a draft notification proposing the creation of five municipal corporations under a new Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), carving up the existing area of 709 square kilometres Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
The draft, issued by the Urban Development Department under the recently passed Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, outlines the formation of Bengaluru Central, South, East, West, and North municipal corporations. Each of these will function under the broader umbrella of the GBA, which will be chaired by the chief minister.
The proposed corporations are based on various parameters such as population density, area, infrastructure, and projected property tax revenue. The draft notification was issued after Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot approved the draft on July 19.
Bengaluru Central Corporation will cover central constituencies including CV Raman Nagar (SC), Chamarajpet, Chickpet, Gandhi Nagar, Shanthi Nagar, and Shivaji Nagar, encompassing all wards within these areas. The other corporations — East, West, North, and South — are also based on Assembly constituencies, with minimal overlap. Dasarahalli, RR Nagar, Yeshwanthpur, Mahadevapura, and Padmanabhanagar are proposed to be split across two corporations.
Each corporation will cover between 78 to 168 square kilometres, with populations ranging from 1.3 million to 4.5 million.
One of the most striking aspects of the proposal is the wide disparity in projected property tax revenues. According to estimates for 2025, Bengaluru East, which includes major parts of the IT corridor, is projected to collect Rs 912 crore — the highest among the five. Bengaluru North, largely residential and less commercially developed, is expected to bring in Rs 543 crore.
The variance of Rs 369 crore between the richest and the poorest corporation is significantly higher than earlier proposals, one of which capped the difference at Rs 100 crore. However, the GBA is expected to play a redistribution role, supplementing the finances of lower-income corporations to ensure equity.
The draft notification invites public objections and suggestions for a 30-day period after which the final boundaries will be notified in the official Gazette. Citizens can submit their views to the Deputy Chief Secretary at Vikas Soudha, Bengaluru.
The proposal is expected to be tabled in the Karnataka Assembly’s monsoon session starting August 11, where the government aims to pass the enabling legislation for implementation.
The BBMP headquarters will now function as the GBA head office, marking a significant administrative rebranding for the city.
According to the Brand Bengaluru Committee, while the Central Corporation is constrained from outward expansion due to geographic limitations, it has high potential for vertical growth through Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and improved infrastructure.
The committee’s report also highlights that Bengaluru East has high revenue with lower population due to tech parks and commercial hubs. In contrast, Bengaluru West has a high population and density but generates less revenue.
This ambitious urban restructuring, if finalised, could transform how India’s tech capital is administered — paving the way for decentralised governance while maintaining a unified metropolitan identity under the Greater Bengaluru Authority.