Central Bangalore, Bangalore

An 8.61-acre area near the Cantonment Railway Station in Bengaluru has been designated as a Biodiversity Heritage Site, protecting 371 trees and preserving the area's ecological and historical significance. This safeguards it from commercial development and is expected to combat pollution and improve public health by maintaining a vital green lung for the city. The designation follows public opposition to removing trees for commercial purposes and highlights the broader issue of urban tree loss due to infrastructure projects across India, as seen in Jaipur, where trees are felled without proper impact assessments. This is especially relevant given Bengaluru's recent erratic weather patterns and the vulnerability of urban green spaces to development pressures.

The state government has allocated Rs 125 crore for the five newly formed city corporations, which were created from the former Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Each corporation will receive Rs 25 crore for administrative and operational expenses until a direct tax remittance system is established.

Karnataka's Deputy CM D K Shivakumar announced an allocation of ₹1,100 crore for Bengaluru's road infrastructure, aiming for smooth, pothole-free roads. ₹50 crore has been earmarked for each of the 14 key assembly constituencies, while the remaining constituencies will receive ₹25 crore each.

BBMP has been dissolved, and its responsibilities have been divided among the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), five corporations (North, South, East, West, and Central), and Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE). The GBA, headed by the Chief Minister, will oversee major infrastructure projects, while the corporations will handle maintenance.

The Karnataka government has transferred major road infrastructure projects from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to Bangalore Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) for execution and monitoring. Five projects worth over ₹2,600 crores, including white topping plans, flyovers, high-density corridor action plan, and rail-over-bridge, have been transferred to B-SMILE to accelerate project completion and improve oversight. B-SMILE was created to handle large-scale infrastructure projects and will oversee projects across Greater Bengaluru.

Housing sales in Bengaluru are estimated to rise by 21% in the July-September quarter, indicating a robust market driven by sustained homebuyer demand. In contrast to an overall 4% decline in housing sales across the top nine cities in India, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata are expected to witness increases.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has given Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) officials a one-month deadline, until October 31, to repair all roads in Bengaluru, allocating an additional ₹750 crore for the effort. He warned that chief engineers will be held accountable if the deadline is not met and cautioned officials against compromising on quality, threatening strict action for any shortcomings. The Chief Minister criticized the current repair work as unscientific and substandard.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been dissolved and its responsibilities divided among the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), five corporations (North, South, East, West, and Central), and Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Ltd (B-SMILE). Corporations will handle maintenance and minor redevelopment, while major infrastructure projects are assigned to GBA and B-SMILE. A sum of Rs 1,100 crore has been allocated to the five corporations, with MLAs involved in road selection. Junction improvements worth Rs 150 crore and Rs 70 crore for public toilets and sweeping machines will also be redistributed. The BBMP has dropped its Rs 50 crore ornamental lighting plan due to funding shortages. GBA will oversee the Rs 2,000-crore Water Security and Resilience Project, focusing on stormwater drain improvements, and a Rs 238-crore project under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund, along with Rs 50 crore for digital infrastructure upgrades. The GBA will operate through five municipal corporations. Each corporation will have its own mayor, officers, and local governance team.