2 more zones, will BBMP get better?

BENGALURU: The number of zones is all set to increase from existing eight to 10. However, the boundary of wards will not be changed but the boundary of zones will be reorganised for better delivery of services.

Interestingly, reorganisation of zones will not have any bearing on the recommendations of the three-member restructuring committee, as it is not meddling with the law or changing the boundary of ward, said BBMP Commissioner G. Kumar Naik.

For administration purpose, to serve public effectively and for equal distribution of work among all BBMP joint commissioners, the state government has given its consent for enhancing the number of wards to 10.

“For instance, Dasarahalli zone has one constituency under it. But some other zones have more that one constituency and more wards. There is no equal distribution of work load among joint commissioners. This exercise will help serve public better and increase the efficiency of all the eight joint commissioners,” he said.

The government’s nod to increase the number of zones has also authorized the BBMP to hire at least 1004 more employees for different cadres such as engineers, health inspectors and revenue officers among others.

The decision to increase two zones has been taken at the level of Chief Minister and Chief Secretary. The committee on restructuring talks about multiple corporations and more than one mayors and deputy mayors. The existing set up of Mayor, deputy mayor and standing committees will be followed.

The BBMP committee on Administration and Reforms will be placing the subject before the council before sending it to the government for approval, Naik added.

Naik said that currently there are zones like East, West, South, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Dasarahalli, Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli and Yelahanka. Two more zones will be added by re-drawing the boundaries of the zones and some wards will shift from one zone to other. However, the names of the two more zones have not been finalised yet, he added.

The present zonal arrangement is unscientific and having 10 zones is a balanced one considering the population. Citizens convenience in accessing zonal services and distribution of work load can be tackled with the reorganisation of zones, said V. Ravichandar, urban expert.