Greater Bengaluru Authority to add over 1,200 civic staff, annual cost pegged at ₹137 crore
Bengaluru: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and five municipal corporations is set to increase the sanctioned civic workforce by more than 1,200, pushing the annual expenditure higher by an estimated ₹137 crore.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is scheduled to cease functioning from September 2, as per a report published by Deccan Herald. The state government is finalising a new organisational framework for the GBA, which will be the first such apex body in the country and the five corporations that will be carved out of the city.
At present, the BBMP has 18,790 employees against a sanctioned strength of 22,411. Under the new arrangement, the sanctioned workforce will rise to 23,689, an addition of 1,278 posts. Since BBMP is already operating with a shortfall, close to 4,900 recruitments will be required to meet the sanctioned strength.
The GBA itself is expected to employ 314 personnel, while Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE), which will handle large infrastructure projects, is projected to have 107 staff members. Each of the five new corporations will require between 2,163 and 4,315 employees, covering both technical and non-technical roles.
Sanitation workers will remain the largest group, with 16,807 staff dedicated to ward-level road and waste management, a figure that is broadly unchanged. New appointments are likely in specialised areas including finance, town planning, IT, legal services, health, revenue and surveying.
The final workforce figures will depend on the number of wards, which has not yet been fixed. Government officials are examining models ranging from 300 to 500 wards. Based on population estimates, Bengaluru West may have the highest number of wards, while Bengaluru East is expected to have fewer but generate higher revenue. The government has tentatively proposed creating 50 divisions and 150 sub-divisions across the five corporations.
Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development) Tushar Girinath informed Deccan Herald that the final decision on ward numbers will be taken by a delimitation commission, which is yet to be constituted. “The government will issue guidelines, but the commission will decide the number and boundaries of wards. Reports suggesting a fixed number, such as 450 wards, are not correct,” he clarified.
Citizen groups have raised concerns about whether an increase in staff strength will translate into improved governance. R. Rajagopalan, convener of the Bengaluru Coalition, observed that systemic problems may persist unless reforms go deeper. “The issues that weakened the BBMP, such as cash-for-posting practices and lack of qualified administrators and engineers, must be addressed. Governance depends not just on numbers but on systems, processes and skilled personnel. The GBA looks top-heavy and decentralisation remains largely nominal,” he said.
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Couple, son 'hacked' to death over witchcraft suspicion in Jharkhand's Palamu
Medininagar (PTI): A couple and their 18-year-old son were allegedly hacked to death over suspicion of practising witchcraft in Jharkhand's Palamu, police said on Sunday.
Their minor daughter was also injured in the attack late on Saturday, a police officer said.
The bodies were recovered from their house on Sunday in Panki police station area, he said.
“Initial investigation suggests that the case is related to witchcraft suspicion,” Manoj Kumar Jha, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Lesliganj told PTI.
A manhunt is on to nab the culprits, Jha said.
The girl suffered severe injuries and has been admitted to a government hospital, he said.
The deceased have been identified as Vijay Bhuiyan (45), his wife Kalia Devi (40), and their son Chotu Bhuiyan.
The bodies have been sent to Medinirai Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) for post-mortem examination.
