NEWS – With Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) now being split into five independent corporations, critical questions have emerged about the division of responsibilities between the newly formed corporations and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), which will handle pan-city issues.

HIGHLIGHTS

Need for Activity Mapping

• Experts emphasize the need for an activity mapping exercise to clearly define responsibilities for each corporation — including budgeting, service delivery, planning, execution, monitoring, and maintenance. This was recommended by the Brand Bengaluru Committee.

Major Projects & Infrastructure

• The Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd. (B-SMILE) may handle large-scale infrastructure projects that span across multiple corporations. Individual corporations would manage roads and smaller projects within their own boundaries.

Waste Management

• Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd. (BSWML) will continue citywide operations, including garbage collection and processing, under a vendor-based system with uniform garbage cess collection by each corporation.

SWDs and Lakes

• Bengaluru has 829 km of Storm Water Drains (SWDs) spread across valleys and zones. Responsibility for both SWDs and lakes is expected to be transferred to BWSSB, which already manages Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). This is intended to bring better coordination and long-term planning. However, some argue that lake upkeep, a public space matter, should stay local.

Urban Planning and Building Licences

• Ward-level approvals will be used for small buildings, while GBA will approve high-rises and issue Occupancy Certificates.
  There’s ongoing debate on whether trade licences should be centralized under GBA or issued individually by each corporation.