Govt arms bear four-fifths of Bengaluru’s public spending, says Janaagraha finding

Bengaluru: Nearly 80% of public spending in Bengaluru is carried out by government-run agencies, while the city administration accounts for only about 20%, according to a report by non-profit Janaagraha.

The report, titled “Public Expenditure in Bengaluru,” estimates that total public spending in the city was around Rs 38,455 crore in the financial year 2021-22, roughly Rs 100 crore per day. The findings are based on an analysis of more than 70 documents and data from over 13 public authorities.

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“We often feel that Bengaluru continues to struggle with poor infrastructure and services. We wanted to understand where the money was going. Knowing how much is being spent and how it is used is important for public accountability,” said Srikanth Viswanathan, chief executive of Janaagraha.

The report says a large portion of spending is routed through government-controlled agencies such as the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), BESCOM, and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). These bodies are responsible for essential services like water supply, electricity, and public transport inside the city.

However, transparency remains limited. The report notes that only three of the 12 such agencies – BDA, BWSSB, and the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) – are required by law to publish financial information. Overall, these bodies disclose only about 34% of their financial data.

“While companies in India must follow strict financial reporting standards, municipal bodies are handling similarly large amounts of public money,” Viswanathan said.

The report identifies three main routes through which public funds flow in Bengaluru: the city administration (Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) across multiple zones), state government departments such as education, health and horticulture, and government-run agencies.

It also highlights that state budgets do not clearly show how much is spent specifically on Bengaluru.

The report further added that creating a public dashboard would give citizens a clearer, consolidated view of how money is spent across different agencies in the city.