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Ballari: Karnataka could soon get a new legislative framework aimed at transforming urban governance, with the proposed Karnataka Urban Swaraj, Municipal Governance & Transformation Act, 2026 submitted to the state govt for consideration. In a concept note submitted to DR Patil, deputy chairperson of the Karnataka State Decentralised Planning and Development Committee, Hegde stated that the proposed Act would serve as the foundation for the U rban Swaraj Project 2.0 (2026-2035). It proposes statutory devolution of functions, funds and functionaries, along with an 18-function urban activity mapping framework and a municipal devolution readiness index.
The framework envisages a multi-tier governance structure comprising state, metropolitan or regional, municipal and ward-level bodies, according to Hegde. S Mohanadass Hegde, member of the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission, has proposed the legislation to make urban local bodies (ULBs) autonomous, decentralised, financially resilient, professionally managed, digitally integrated and climate-smart.
Hegde has proposed implementing the framework in four phases between 2026 and 2035 and has sought an inter-departmental review. Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news.
Hegde said the framework promotes integrated spatial planning and includes statutory measures covering water security, sanitation, lake and wetland restoration, groundwater recharge, wastewater reuse, biodiversity conservation, urban forestry, climate adaptation and disaster resilience. He said the proposed Act aims to create a new model of urban governance built on decentralisation, citizen participation, municipal autonomy and long-term urban resilience. A key feature of the proposal is placing w ard sabhas and area sabhas at the centre of urban governance. The framework advocates participatory budgeting, ward micro-plans, citizen report cards, social audits, public expenditure disclosure and digital platforms to strengthen citizen engagement in decision-making. The proposal also seeks to bolster municipal finances through GIS-linked property taxation, diversified revenue sources, better user charges, asset management and monetisation, land-value capture, municipal and green bonds, climate finance and performance-based grants. To drive digital transformation, the framework recommends a common K arnataka Urban Digital Architecture integrating municipal GIS, digital twins, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence analytics, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, citizen platforms and open-data dashboards. It also proposes a statutory Municipal Asset and Service Register for civic infrastructure. The proposal further includes enterprise facilitation centres for local businesses, integrated systems for municipal school infrastructure, urban agriculture and circular economy initiatives, as well as simplified building approval processes. To improve institutional capacity, Hegde has suggested professional municipal cadres, competency-based recruitment and the establishment of a Karnataka Municipal Governance Academy. A statewide urban project preparation facility has also been proposed to support major infrastructure projects. The framework additionally envisages Social Inclusion Plans for vulnerable communities, alongside the Karnataka Urban Swaraj Performance Index (KUSPI) and a Municipal Transformation Scorecard to track governance outcomes. He has also recommended constituting a high-level committee to examine its legislative, financial, technological and administrative implications and prepare the draft law and implementation roadmap. Download the TOI App.