The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has landed in controversy after its very first tender process, issued by the planning and coordination department, was cancelled without notice. The tender, floated on September 3, invited expressions of interest for designing a logo and flag for the newly formed authority and its five regional corporations — Central, East, West, South, and North.
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The notice had called upon professional designers and agencies to submit both digital and hard copies of their proposed concepts by September 15. However, on the final day of submission, participants were informed directly by the executive engineer’s office that the process had been withdrawn. No official notification was issued to the public, leaving applicants surprised and frustrated.
Over 30 applicants affected
Many design professionals had already dedicated considerable time and resources towards preparing their entries, with expectations that the project would be part of GBA’s long-term branding exercise. According to industry observers, over 30 applicants may have been affected by the abrupt cancellation.
The decision has raised concerns about transparency in the functioning of the newly established authority. Critics argue that such reversals at the initial stage could undermine confidence in future projects. The cancellation is being viewed as a setback to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s vision of giving the city a stronger identity through the new governance framework. Stakeholders are now seeking greater clarity on whether GBA intends to reissue the tender or pursue an in-house approach to its branding.