Karnataka's Overlapping Bengaluru Master Plans Face Legal Challenges

The Karnataka State Government, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), and the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) are drafting three separate, overlapping master plans to manage urban expansion across Bengaluru. The planning process, which aims to double the city's economy by 2032, has drawn sharp criticism and legal challenges from urban planning experts and citizen groups who argue the multi-agency approach bypasses the legally mandated Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC).

Under the current framework, the GBA is tasked with preparing a GIS-based Master Plan for the 686.82-square-kilometre core city area with a vision timeline extending to 2047. Meanwhile, the BDA is drafting its own master plan for the 540.66-square-kilometre outer peripheral area with a timeline limited to 2041. Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar has indicated that the GBA boundary could expand in the future, potentially intruding into the BDA's jurisdiction.

Superimposing these localized strategies is a regional Economic Master Plan covering 8,000 square kilometres across the districts of Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, and Ramanagara. The state government has signed a Statement of Intent with the ISEG Foundation to draft this economic plan, which targets development priorities up to 2037.

Urban experts have raised serious concerns over the jurisdictional overlaps and the legality of the process. Urbanist Ashwin Mahesh termed the planning efforts "legally flawed" because they bypass the MPC, which he states is the only constitutional body with the lawful authority to lead such initiatives. Mahesh also challenged the internal planning capacity of the BDA, noting that its planning roles are filled by individuals unrecognized in the professional planning field.

The Citizens Action Forum (CAF) has launched a legal challenge in the High Court of Karnataka. Vijayan Menon of the CAF asserted that under the 74th Amendment, planning authority rightfully belongs to the MPC. Menon stated that the administration is seeking to maintain centralized control of Bengaluru's planning through the BDA or GBA rather than local municipal bodies, leading to ongoing legal disputes.

Jaya Dhindaw, Executive Director of the Sustainable Cities Programme at WRI India, also questioned the fragmented approach. She noted that master planning should treat the metropolitan region as a single functional urban system rather than disconnected jurisdictions, recommending that a single agency lead the preparation to ensure a coherent vision.