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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Pakistan face must-win test against winless Namibia to seal Super 8s berth
Colombo (PTI): With their backs against the wall, former champions Pakistan will rely on their fragile batting to come good after the jolt against India and seal a Super 8s spot when they face struggling Namibia, in their final league fixture, here on Wednesday.
In Group A, title favourites India have already sealed their Super 8s berth after their handsome 61-run win over Pakistan the other day.
The second spot is now up for grabs, with the United States having their nose ahead of Pakistan.
Both teams have four points each but Pakistan are behind on Net Run Rate -- Pakistan have a negative NRR of -0.403, while the USA are comfortably placed at 0.788.
Pakistan's equation is simple -- win against the winless Namibia and make the cut as any slip-up could leave them relying on other permutation and combinations.
Led by Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan's campaign has suddenly entered a tense phase after what was meant to be a straightforward progression turned into a battle for survival following the defeat to India.
The spotlight will firmly be on their fragile batting -- including stalwart Babar Azam, openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub and their skipper Agha -- which was exposed in their defeat to India in Colombo.
Former Azam has been under pressure, especially after his seven-ball five against India, with calls for his exclusion growing louder.
After being reduced to 13 for 3 by India's pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, Pakistan's middle order offered no resistance -- worrying sign even against a side like Namibia.
Openers Sahibzada and Ayub, along with the middle order, will also need to show greater application.
Pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi also struggled, claiming just one wicket while conceding over 31 runs in his two overs.
The only bright spot was Ayub, who had India's top order in a spot of bother with his three-wicket haul.
Pakistan's key worry is Afridi's inconsistency; his struggle with rhythm and control was glaring when he leaked 15 runs in the crucial final over, handing India the late momentum.
Against Namibia, Afridi must strike early as removing key batters in the first six overs will let Pakistan dictate the match.
Pakistan's powerplay frailties also remain a worry -- they managed barely 40 runs while losing four wickets in the last game.
Frequent middle-order shuffles have created a muddle, putting late-order acceleration in doubt.
Namibia, though winless in three matches so far, have shown flashes of discipline and tactical awareness.
The smart tactics of their skipper Gerhard Erasmus paid dividends against India when the experienced offspinner cleverly released the ball halfway through his run-up and delivered from well behind the stumps to fox Tilak Varma during his splendid 4/20 spell.
He claimed the prized wickets of Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, and his battle against Pakistan's struggling batters could be a key match-up.
Namibia, often thriving in the underdog role, will look to bow out with pride. If they can drag Pakistan into a low-scoring contest, nerves could once again come into play in what has become a crucial fixture for the 2009 champions.
Left-arm pacer JJ Smuts is also a constant thorn for batsmen, Namibia have the firepower to pull off an upset.
Opening batter Louren Steenkamp has delivered two encouraging knocks, including a half-century, in the previous games, while Jan Nicolaas Frylinck and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton have added much-needed stability to Namibia's top order.
Teams (from):
Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (c), Jan Balt, Jack Brassell, Alexander Busing-Volschenk, Jan Frylinck, Zane Green (wk), Max Heingo, Malan Kruger, Dylan Leicher, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, JJ Smit, Louren Steenkamp, Ruben Trumpelmann.
Pakistan: Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
Match starts 3:00 p.m.
