Bangalore Karnataka’s rural property regularisation drive has been hampered by technical difficulties, with only a fraction of applications approved since the launch of the state’s upgraded e-Swathu 2.0 platform. The software, intended to provide digital property certificates akin to e-khatas in gram panchayat areas, has processed just 18% of submissions in its initial two months, highlighting operational challenges in digitising land governance.
Since December 1, 2025, around 44,500 property owners across the state submitted applications for certification, yet fewer than 8,000 certificates have been issued. The slow uptake has been uneven, with only 11 districts surpassing 1,000 applications. Haveri led submissions with over 15,000 requests, followed by Dharwad and Bangalore Urban, while several districts reported negligible engagement. Certificate issuance has similarly been concentrated, with Bangalore Urban accounting for nearly a quarter of all approvals.
Officials attribute delays to software design issues, including the conversion of existing property records, compatibility with multi-storey developments, integration with industrial land portfolios, and measurement unit standardisation. Rural development authorities are actively coordinating with the software developer to implement fixes, aiming to stabilise the platform within weeks. Urban planners and governance analysts note that the slow adoption of e-Swathu 2.0 risks stalling broader initiatives to formalise rural land markets and integrate them into regional planning frameworks. Digitised property records are central to sustainable urban expansion, as they improve transparency, reduce informal land disputes, and facilitate equitable access to credit and municipal services. Delays in certification could exacerbate legal ambiguities, particularly for smallholders and women property owners, whose access to formal documentation often underpins financial inclusion.
Economic implications are also significant. The state aims to regularise over 97 lakh rural properties, a move expected to streamline property taxation, infrastructure planning, and housing development in peri-urban areas. Prolonged technical setbacks can hinder investment in rural real estate and slow the formalisation of land markets, which increasingly intersect with urban growth corridors around Bangalore. Experts emphasise that resolving these challenges will require both technological optimisation and capacity-building at local administrative units. Ensuring that digital tools are user-friendly, interoperable, and aligned with ground realities is critical to sustaining inclusive land governance. With corrective measures underway, authorities anticipate improved processing rates, which could strengthen trust in digital governance while supporting more resilient and equitable urban-rural development.
