GBA marks first year: faster decisions, better civic outreach, but revenue lags

Marking the first anniversary of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and the five city corporations, Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao offered a mixed assessment of the past year, noting gains in administrative speed and public engagement while acknowledging shortfalls in revenue collection.

Rao said the expansion of decision-making authority at the corporation level has accelerated the resolution of local and long-pending issues. Works that can be approved and funded directly by corporations are now being executed more quickly. He also pointed to increased interaction with citizens as a factor that has improved the implementation of neighbourhood-level projects.

However, the pace of some infrastructure projects and revenue generation fell short of expectations. Rao attributed this to two external factors: the West Asia crisis, which caused a shortage of bitumen, and the ongoing conduct of multiple surveys, including the SIR, socio-economic survey, and census. Although funds were sanctioned and works approved, these disruptions delayed execution.

On the fiscal front, Rao admitted that revenue collection did not match the levels initially budgeted by the corporations. Anticipated income from tax revisions, premium floor area ratio (FAR) charges, and other sources could not be realised. He expressed confidence that these avenues could be tapped in the coming months, enabling more development work.

Rao also highlighted improved coordination and efficiency across the new structure. The GBA has finalised a location for new corporation offices, while a suitable site is still being sought for two other corporations.

In an administrative update, Rao said former chief secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar has submitted a report on cadre and recruitment rules for the GBA, which has been forwarded to the government for approval. A second report is pending submission, after which further action will be taken.