BDA Proposes Four Zonal Offices Led by Senior KAS Officers Across Bengaluru

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has proposed setting up four zonal offices across Bengaluru to bring civic administration closer to citizens, drawing inspiration from the city's municipal corporation setup. The planned offices will be headed by zonal commissioners holding the rank of senior-scale Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) officers.

In an official communication sent to the Urban Development Department (UDD), the BDA has requested amendments to its Cadre and Recruitment (C&R) rules to enable these senior appointments. The authority pointed out that four special land acquisition officers (SLAOs), who are currently serving on a temporary basis, have already been deputed to function as zonal commissioners.

Operating across an administrative jurisdiction of 1,207 square kilometres, the BDA stated that its responsibilities include executing major infrastructure projects such as flyovers and underpasses, alongside developing affordable housing sites. To manage these expansive responsibilities locally, the authority has formally asked the state government to upgrade the existing SLAO posts so the officers can lead the proposed zonal units.

However, the move has drawn criticism from local residents and civic activists, who view the proposal as a rehabilitation mechanism to keep temporary staff on the payroll. The four SLAOs were originally appointed on a temporary basis to oversee land acquisition for the Dr Shivaram Karanth Layout following directions from the Supreme Court of India.

BM Shivakumar, convener of the Jayaprakash Narayana Vichara Vedike, criticized the decision, stating that the SLAOs currently have no work within the authority since the Dr Shivaram Karanth Layout has already been formed and is ready for allotment. He noted that retaining them as zonal commissioners would unnecessarily inflate the BDA's administrative expenses and salary budget, adding that the authority already possesses adequate staff to run zonal operations without amending its recruitment rules.

The BDA has defended the structural reorganization, maintaining that the decentralization will streamline daily operations and accelerate public grievance redressal. A senior BDA official explained that adopting a decentralized model similar to the division of the erstwhile BBMP into five corporations will cut the number of desks a file must pass through, allowing citizen issues to be resolved much faster.