Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) has halved regularisation fees for houses built on BDA-acquired land before July 10, 2008, and opened an online portal for property owners to apply for absolute sale deeds. Applicants have been asked to submit their applications by December 17 under the revised rates.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced the reduction after a review meeting with BDA officials and launched the citizen portal, which also provides access to other BDA services. He said the move was intended to encourage property owners to use the regularisation facility available under Section 38(D) of the BDA Act.
The BDA had estimated that nearly one lakh property owners could be eligible under the provision. However, only about 600 applications had been received so far, Shivakumar said on Monday. The revised charges are calculated as a percentage of the current guidance value of the land, including the building.
Owners of sites measuring up to 20 feet by 30 feet will have to pay 5% of the current guidance value. The charge is 12.5% for sites larger than 20 feet by 30 feet and up to 30 feet by 40 feet. Sites above 30 feet by 40 feet and up to 40 feet by 60 feet will attract a 20% charge, while sites above 40 feet by 60 feet and up to 50 feet by 80 feet will attract a 25% charge.
The scheme does not cover corner sites. It also excludes buildings on land reserved for parks, playgrounds, open spaces or civic amenities. Properties located on land required for roads or obstructing the alignment of a proposed Ring Road are outside the scope of the provision.
Other exclusions cover land connected with national highways, bypass roads and mass rapid transit projects. Properties located over stormwater drains, lakes or riverbeds, as well as land beneath high-tension electricity lines, will not qualify. Acquired land affected by disputes or restrictions arising from interim court orders is also excluded.
The low number of applications compared with the BDA’s estimate indicates that the regularisation process has so far reached only a small portion of the potentially eligible property owners. The revised fee structure and online portal are intended to make the process more accessible, although eligibility will continue to depend on the land’s location, use and legal status.
Shivakumar did not disclose how much revenue the BDA expects to generate after reducing the regularisation charges. Property owners seeking the benefit have been directed to apply through the citizen portal before the December 17 deadline.
