Siddaramaiah Boosts Civic Powers, BJP Boycotts First GBA Meeting

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah laid out a roadmap to enhance Bengaluru’s liveability at the inaugural meeting of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) on Friday, emphasizing improved waste management, traffic solutions, and seamless civic coordination. Held at Kempegowda Municipal Hall with 75 members, including MLAs and MPs, the meeting marked the GBA’s launch as the central authority to streamline operations among five newly formed municipal corporations managing the city’s sprawling 1,400 sq km. Siddaramaiah urged agencies like the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to align with the GBA for efficient service delivery, warning officials against substandard public works or cozy ties with contractors.

Addressing Bengaluru’s chronic issues, the CM prioritized waste management, directing civic bodies to optimize garbage collection and maintain cleaner streets. With the city generating over 5,000 tonnes of waste daily, he stressed accountability in processing and segregation, aligning with the Swachh Bharat Mission’s 2024 targets. On traffic, which paralyzes Bengaluru’s roads with over 1.2 crore vehicles, Siddaramaiah instructed the Transport Department to deploy small feeder buses to enhance last-mile connectivity for Metro commuters, complementing the Namma Metro’s 74 km network. He also called for wider footpaths to improve pedestrian safety, citing studies showing 40% of Bengaluru’s roads lack adequate walkways, hindering mobility in a city ranked among India’s most congested.

The meeting sparked political friction as the opposition BJP boycotted it, alleging the GBA’s formation—splitting the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into five corporations—violates the 74th Constitutional Amendment empowering urban local bodies. Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka accused the Congress government of centralizing power under the CM, undermining elected mayors, and rushing the process with last-minute invites. Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar countered, defending the GBA as a "historic step" to decentralize governance. He announced enhanced financial powers: mayors’ spending limits raised to Rs 10 crore from Rs 5 crore, standing committees to Rs 5 crore from Rs 3 crore, and municipal commissioners to Rs 3 crore from Rs 1 crore, alongside transferring planning authority from the BDA to the GBA, including control over Transferable Development Rights (TDR).

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The GBA’s formation responds to Bengaluru’s rapid urban sprawl, home to 1.4 crore residents and a tech hub contributing 40% of Karnataka’s GDP. With air quality deteriorating—recent AQI readings hit "poor" levels due to construction dust—and civic infrastructure strained, the authority aims to unify planning for water, power, and transport. Siddaramaiah’s vision, backed by a Rs 12,000 crore BBMP budget for 2025-26, seeks to position Bengaluru as a global city, but the BJP’s absence signals ongoing political battles that could challenge implementation as the 2026 assembly elections loom.

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