Latest news with #GreaterBengaluruGovernanceAct-2024
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Election Commission urges amendments to ensure smooth polls to GBA corporations
Bengaluru: Karnataka's State Election Commission (SEC) has urged the govt to amend the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act-2024 to plug legislative gaps and enable smooth conduct of elections to the city's newly created multi-corporation civic agency setup. In a letter to additional chief secretary of the urban development department, state election commissioner GS Sangreshi highlighted the absence of clarity in the current law regarding preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of elections. In his letter, he said: "Section 35 of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act-2024 does not specify whether the SEC should prepare electoral rolls or adopt the Legislative Assembly electoral rolls." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru To address this, the commission has proposed two options: Amend Section 35 to allow the SEC to prepare electoral rolls in line with the Registration of Electors Rules-1960, framed under the Representation of People's Act-1950; or alternatively, adopt the assembly rolls, provided the govt frames rules enabling their use. "The letter also suggested aligning Section 35 with provisions in other state laws, such as the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act-1976, and the Karnataka Municipalities Act- 1964 which include clear guidelines for electoral roll preparation," a source said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In IC Markets Learn More Undo The commission has asked the govt to frame rules under Section 68 of the Act to govern elections for key urban posts. "There is a need for the govt to frame rules under Section 68 of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act-2024 for conducting elections for councillors, mayors, deputy mayors, and standing committee chairpersons," the letter states. Currently, Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Election) Rules-1979 are in use for elections in other municipal corporations. The SEC has recommended their adoption for Bengaluru's five city corporations to maintain procedural uniformity and avoid legal ambiguity. The commission also stressed urgency of govt intervention. "The SEC urged the govt to take prompt action to amend Section 35, frame necessary rules, or adopt existing ones to facilitate the smooth conduct of elections under the Act," the letter stated. "These measures are essential for upholding the democratic process in the newly established multiple city corporations in Bengaluru," it added. The govt is yet to respond to the proposal. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bengaluru's chief engineer moved to new agency
Bengaluru: With an aim to revamp urban infrastructure management, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) engineer-in-chief BS Prahalad has been transferred to the newly formed Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) as its director (technical). The move comes as part of the govt's decision to implement high-impact urban projects through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with an enhanced annual budget of Rs 7,000 crore. Prahalad had been entrusted with the task of improving the condition of roads and storm water drains, two areas where the BBMP had come under fire from Bengalureans, before he was put in-charge of the city's big ticket projects mooted by DCM DK Shivakumar and will be executed under B-SMILE. The transition, formalised through govt order dated May 23 also involves a reorganisation of the BBMP's engineering divisions. Prahalad's former role was dissolved, with structural works merged under the chief engineer (health and sanitation) and road development functions handed over to the chief engineer (road infrastructure). The restructured model aims to streamline operations and avoid overlapping mandates as the city gears up for a new governance framework under the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act-2024.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
For now, Greater Bengaluru unlikely to go beyond BBMP limits
BENGALURU : The govt is all set to put on hold the move to expand Bengaluru's civic area to 1,000-plus sqkm by including peripheral villages within the jurisdiction of the proposed Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). Instead, it will retain the current extent of 709 sqkm. The state cabinet, which will meet Friday, is expected to discuss the matter with a decision on the date of implementation of Greater Bengaluru Governance Act-2024 , which was notified on April 24. Following the passing of the new legislation, delineation of GBA's boundaries had come up for discussion, with many villages on the outskirts of the city expressing interest in getting detached from gram panchayats and being included within the city civic body's jurisdiction. The BBMP Restructuring Committee, in its first interim report, had suggested the GBA area cover 1,307 sqkm (including BBMP and BDA areas). The committee led by MLA Rizwan Arshad, which submitted the latest report on restructuring Bengaluru city administration, spoke about creating new corporations to govern while not specifying the proposed extent of the city's civic area. Following this, several legislators in the city and Bengaluru Rural district submitted suggestions seeking the inclusion of some villages into Bengaluru. That had a ripple effect on the realty sector with land prices shooting up in villages on the city's periphery in anticipation of becoming an integral part of Bengaluru's civic administrative system. However, the proposed inclusion and expansion of GBA area will not happen immediately. A source said: "Initially, the existing BBMP limits will be considered as the jurisdiction of Greater Bengaluru. In future, decisions will be made regarding the inclusion of gram panchayats and towns on the city's outskirts." Although there were proposals to create three city corporations for more efficient governance, the final decision rests with the govt. The govt notified Greater Bengaluru Governance Act-2024 on April 24, which outlines a three-tier civic governance system consisting of Greater Bengaluru Authority, city corporations and ward committees. The Act allows for the formation of up to seven city corporations. In fact, the opposition BJP had criticised the govt's move to form Greater Bengaluru, calling it a strategy to centralise power and influence the upcoming civic body elections. For over four-and-a-half years, BBMP has been functioning without an elected body, and while the Congress govt promised that the city will be governed by an elected body once Greater Bengaluru comes into existence, the timeline for this remains unclear. On holding elections for newly formed Greater Bengaluru, the source said, "There are proposals to trifurcate BBMP limits into three civic corporations. Once formed, elections to the new local bodies are likely to happen by the year-end. Prior to deciding on the elections, there are many modalities that need to be completed which include jurisdiction of the wards, reservation and others." On other hand, BJP has already explored legal options to hold civic elections as per the BBMP Act by approaching the court and plans to challenge GBA's formation.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
For now, Greater Bengaluru unlikely to go beyond Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike limits
Bengaluru: The govt is all set to put on hold the move to expand Bengaluru's civic area to 1,000-plus sqkm by including peripheral villages within the jurisdiction of the proposed Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). Instead, it will retain the current extent of 709 state cabinet, which will meet Friday, is expected to discuss the matter with a decision on the date of implementation of Greater Bengaluru Governance Act-2024 , which was notified on April 24. Following the passing of the new legislation, delineation of GBA's boundaries had come up for discussion, with many villages on the outskirts of the city expressing interest in getting detached from gram panchayats and being included within the city civic body's jurisdiction. The BBMP Restructuring Committee, in its first interim report, had suggested the GBA area cover 1,307 sqkm (including BBMP and BDA areas). Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list Did Pak shoot down Indian jets? What MEA said India foils Pakistan's attack on Jammu airport: What we know so far The committee led by MLA Rizwan Arshad, which submitted the latest report on restructuring Bengaluru city administration, spoke about creating new corporations to govern while not specifying the proposed extent of the city's civic this, several legislators in the city and Bengaluru Rural district submitted suggestions seeking the inclusion of some villages into Bengaluru. That had a ripple effect on the realty sector with land prices shooting up in villages on the city's periphery in anticipation of becoming an integral part of Bengaluru's civic administrative system. However, the proposed inclusion and expansion of GBA area will not happen immediately. A source said: "Initially, the existing BBMP limits will be considered as the jurisdiction of Greater Bengaluru. In future, decisions will be made regarding the inclusion of gram panchayats and towns on the city's outskirts." Although there were proposals to create three city corporations for more efficient governance, the final decision rests with the govt notified Greater Bengaluru Governance Act-2024 on April 24, which outlines a three-tier civic governance system consisting of Greater Bengaluru Authority, city corporations and ward committees. The Act allows for the formation of up to seven city fact, the opposition BJP had criticised the govt's move to form Greater Bengaluru, calling it a strategy to centralise power and influence the upcoming civic body elections. For over four-and-a-half years, BBMP has been functioning without an elected body, and while the Congress govt promised that the city will be governed by an elected body once Greater Bengaluru comes into existence, the timeline for this remains holding elections for newly formed Greater Bengaluru, the source said, "There are proposals to trifurcate BBMP limits into three civic corporations. Once formed, elections to the new local bodies are likely to happen by the year-end. Prior to deciding on the elections, there are many modalities that need to be completed which include jurisdiction of the wards, reservation and others." On other hand, BJP has already explored legal options to hold civic elections as per the BBMP Act by approaching the court and plans to challenge GBA's formation.
