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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
What Karnataka's move to exempt small plots from Occupancy Certificates means for Bengaluru's real estate market
In a move that could reshape building compliance norms across Karnataka, the state's Urban Development Department (UDD) has proposed exempting residential buildings constructed on plots measuring up to 1,200 square feet from the mandatory requirement of obtaining Occupancy Certificates (OCs). In a move that could reshape building compliance norms across Karnataka, the state's Urban Development Department (UDD) has proposed exempting residential buildings constructed on plots measuring up to 1,200 square feet from the mandatory requirement of obtaining OCs. (Representational Image)(Souptik Datta ) "Buildings up to ground + 2 floors or stilt + 3 floors on plots exceeding 1200 sq ft may be exempted from obtaining occupancy certificate (OC)," the proposal signed by Tushar Giri Nath, additional chief secretary at UDD and accessed by showed. The meeting, chaired by Giri Nath, recommended amendments to key legislations, including the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, and the model building regulations under the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department. The proposal to waive OCs for buildings under 1,200 sq ft has sparked a mix of relief and concern among builders, homeowners, and urban planners. While the exemption could ease regulatory burdens on thousands of small property owners, especially in Bengaluru's dense and unplanned neighbourhood, experts fear it may open the floodgates to unsafe, unregulated construction and further strain the city's fragile infrastructure. Also Read: Karnataka Cabinet approves regularisation of B-Khata properties in Bengaluru. Here's what it means for property owners What the proposed exemption means Occupancy Certificates are currently required to ensure a completed building adheres to approved plans, municipal by-laws, and safety norms. Without an OC, a property is technically unfit for occupation and is ineligible for utilities such as water and electricity from government agencies. However, many smaller buildings in Bengaluru and other urban areas are constructed informally, often without OCs, Dhananjaya Padmanabhachar, director of the Karnataka Home Buyers Forum, pointed out. If approved, the exemption would essentially legalise properties, at least those on plots under 1,200 sq ft, offering relief to homeowners who struggle with compliance or whose builders failed to secure the necessary approvals. The move could also reduce red tape for first-time homebuyers or those constructing budget homes, experts say. Also Read: Good news for tenants: Rents may stabilise in 2025 as new supply and infra improve connectivity to peripheral locations Bengaluru needs better real estate regulation, say experts 'If you go to any locality in Bengaluru today, you will find that most buildings have some form of violation; they've deviated from the sanctioned plan in one way or another,' said Padmanabhachar, an expert familiar with the matter. 'As per the Supreme Court's directives, it is the responsibility of the city corporation to regulate and take action against such violations. But under the new amendment, individuals will be allowed to construct on plots below 1,200 sq ft without an occupancy certificate, and the corporation will no longer be held accountable for any deviations.' He cautioned that this could open the door to widespread misuse. 'Instead of enforcing stricter zoning regulations and ensuring planned development, this move may actually encourage more illegal constructions,' he said, pointing out that builders may exploit the exemption to erect ground-plus-two floor structures without adhering to any formal approval norms. 'This move will almost certainly lead to a rise in illegal constructions,' said Vittal BR, an advocate at the Karnataka High Court. 'People will get one sanctioned plan on paper and construct something entirely different in reality, knowing that no occupancy certificate will be required to validate it later.' He said that the exemption could trigger a rush of new construction in smaller plots across the city. 'More and more people will start building on small sites because there's no OC needed. It becomes extremely difficult for authorities to monitor or control these developments, especially when deviations from the approved plan go unchecked. In the long run, it might impact the city's planning and safety standards.'
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Govt decides to regularise B-khatabuildings in Bengaluru, leaves out vacant plots
Bengaluru: The state govt has decided to regularise all existing B khata buildings and multi-storey apartment complexes in Bengaluru, provided they were constructed on unauthorised layouts, lands, or sites and registered in the BBMP records before Sept 30, 2024. However, vacant plots with B khata status have been explicitly excluded from this regularisation drive. The decision, approved by the cabinet on July 17 following a recommendation from the urban development department (UDD), aims to strike a balance, providing legal relief to lakhs of homeowners while maintaining a hard line on unapproved land developments. According to UDD, vacant lands that were converted under Section 95 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, but lack approvals under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (KTCP) Act, 1961, will not be eligible for even a B khata. "In all such cases, the owner shall obtain relevant approvals under the KTCP Act, and thereafter may be issued an A khata from BBMP," the department stated in its note. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru It also clarified that no khata—neither A nor B—would be issued for such vacant lands unless they meet planning norms under the KTCP Act and the Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBG) Act. "The landowner has the opportunity to obtain an A khata after duly complying with the provisions of the KTCP Act and the GBG Act," the note added. While denying regularisation to vacant plots, the govt has offered conditional relief to individual buyers who purchased plots carved out of unauthorised subdivisions. These buyers will be eligible for a khata only if the sale was done through a registered deed on or before Sept 30, 2024, and the site either has direct access to a public road or layout approval as a single plot. For undivided lands bearing a revenue survey number or hissa number and not converted under Section 95 of the KLR Act, the govt has stated that a khata may be issued only if the land is converted to non-agricultural use, the owner ensures road access, and layout or single plot approval is secured under the KTCP Act. The move is expected to impact over 6 lakh B khata properties across Bengaluru, many of which have long remained in legal ambiguity amid rapid urban expansion. When clarity was sought, BBMP administrator Tushar Girinath and special commissioner for revenue Munish Moudgil did not respond to queries from TOI. —- Blurb Vacant lands that were converted under Section 95 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, but lack approvals under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (KTCP) Act, 1961, will not be eligible for even a B khata
India Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Devendra Fadnavis curbs funds for developmental projects amid misuse allegations
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has moved to tighten control over the Urban Development Department's (UDD) spending, amid concerns of excessive and uneven fund allocation ahead of local body to departmental sources, all project approvals under UDD schemes will now require the Chief Minister's direct consent. The decision aims to rein in extravagant expenditures and ensure a more equitable distribution of resources across coalition partners, BJP, Shiv Sena, and the previous tenure of then-Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the department had reportedly allocated substantial funds to allied MLAs and corporators under schemes such as the Swachh Maharashtra Mission (Urban), Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Shramsafalya Awas Yojana, Nagrotthan Abhiyan, and the AMRUT programme. However, funds were allegedly disbursed without adequate project proposals, feasibility studies, or proper approvals, resulting in misuse or underutilisation in several municipal one recent instance, the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation proposed spending Rs 19 crore on waste bins under the Basic Infrastructure Development Scheme, quoting inflated prices. The state government halted the tender process once the irregularities came to preparation for the upcoming municipal polls, the government recently allocated 989 crore for infrastructure development and Rs 1,500 crore for specialised projects through supplementary budget have emerged within the ruling coalition about biased fund disbursement, with Shiv Sena-dominated municipal corporations receiving preferential treatment, while BJP and NCP-led bodies were allegedly sidelined. Several MLAs raised the issue during the recent assembly serious note of these concerns, CM Fadnavis has made it mandatory for all Urban Development project approvals to go through his office. While the official reasoning cites the need for transparency and fairness, political observers suggest the move also serves to curb the growing influence of Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, fueling speculation about shifting power dynamics within the state government.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Maharashtra#Devendra Fadnavis#Bharatiya Janta Party#Mumbai
New Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Govt to split Bengaluru into five corporations, invites objections and suggestions from public
BENGALURU: After months of speculation over how many corporations would be formed for the 'smooth' administration of Greater Bengaluru, the state government on Saturday proposed dividing the city into five municipal corporations. According to the notification issued by the Urban Development Department (UDD), the proposed five corporations are – Bengaluru West, Bengaluru South, Bengaluru North, Bengaluru East and Bengaluru Central. In the Schedule-1, the notification lists out the boundaries of each corporation. The notification read that in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) of section 5 and sub-section (1) of section 7 of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024 (Karnataka Act No. 36 of 2025). The split of the corporations is done after taking into consideration the population, area, density of population, the revenue generated, the percentage of employment in non-agricultural activities, the economic importance and the infrastructural provisions available in the area.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
CM tells UDD to expedite Maan-Mhalunge TP scheme clearance: PMRDA officials
Pune: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis instructed the urban development department to fast-track the clearance of the Maan-Mhalunge town planning scheme in Hinjewadi during a recent review meeting on civic and infrastructure issues in the area, senior officials of the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority said on Monday. "The CM specifically told department officials to look into the delay and ensure the proposal is processed without further hold-ups," a senior PMRDA official, who attended the CM's meeting last week, said. The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has received technical approval for four of six proposed town planning schemes from the urban development department (UDD), but govt notifications are still pending. The Maan-Mhalunge scheme, launched in 2018, is still under review, while the Manjari Khurd-Kolwadi proposal was rejected due to plot demarcation issues and needs to be resubmitted. "We hope the remaining hurdles will be cleared soon for the Maan-Mhalunge scheme," the official said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune "The Maan-Mhalunge scheme was earlier cleared, but revisions were required after plots were found marked along flood lines. The approved TP schemes, Autade Handewadi, Holkarwadi (two separate schemes), and Vadachiwadi, await final notification from state govt," a source within UDD said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Learn More Undo The prolonged delay, attributed partly to last year's Lok Sabha and assembly elections, has stalled development in the Pune Metropolitan Region. "We are unaware why the proposals have been stuck, especially since these are growth centres. They should have been fast-tracked," another PMRDA official said. Earlier this year, PMRDA gave an in-principle approval to 15 additional TP schemes. The current schemes are being developed on the Gujarat model, where landowners receive 50% of developed land within the same area. Each of the five approved schemes was also expected to receive Rs 25 crore in central infrastructure support. PMRDA committed Rs 125 crore from its own funds for these projects. The delays have caused concern among landowners. Mohit Mehta, a Manjari resident whose plot was earmarked for development, said, "If the proposal requires resubmission, there will be no project coming up on our land this year." PMRDA officials said further delays in issuing govt clearance could push back the allocation of central funds. The schemes are integral to the draft development plan approved early last year, aimed at enabling structured growth across 5,000 hectares along the proposed 82-km ring road. GRAPHIC Size of cleared and rejected TP Schemes Vadachiwadi: 134.8 hectares Autande Handewadi: 94.4 hectares Holkarwadi Scheme 1: 158.2 hectares Holkarwadi Scheme 2: 130.8 hectares Manjari-Kolwadi (Rejected): 233.4 hectares Two More Schemes to Be Notified Next Week The Phursungi and Uruli Devachi TP schemes — covering 371 hectares and earlier proposed under PMC — have now been approved under the municipal councils. UDD will issue the final notification next week, officials confirmed.
