Bengaluru: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is expecting to generate nearly Rs 6,000 crore in revenue through the regularisation of around 1.1 lakh unauthorised properties built on BDA-acquired land across Bengaluru.

The authority will reopen the regularisation process through a fresh 100-day window starting June 15, during which property owners will receive a 50 per cent reduction in regularisation charges to encourage wider participation.

BDA officials said the move is aimed at resolving long-pending property disputes while bringing unauthorised structures into official government records.

Scheme targets buildings on acquired BDA land

According to BDA officials, the exercise mainly concerns lands that were acquired or notified during the formation of BDA layouts and other development projects, but where buildings had already come up despite acquisition proceedings.

Officials explained that in many cases, the authority could not proceed with layout development due to engineering limitations, technical hurdles or land-related complications. As a result, existing buildings and structures continued to remain occupied over the years.

The BDA is now considering such properties for regularisation under the revised scheme to provide legal clarity to owners and generate revenue for the authority.

Officials noted that many of these constructions were carried out either by original landowners, subsequent buyers or through informal property transactions after acquisition notifications were issued.

Property owners face legal limitations

The BDA stated that unauthorised properties continue to face multiple legal and administrative restrictions if they are not regularised.

Since these properties remain outside official government records, owners often face difficulties in selling, transferring or legally registering them.

Officials said regularisation would help property owners secure official documentation and reduce uncertainty over ownership and future transactions.

The authority also believes that bringing such properties into the formal system would improve urban planning and property tax administration across Bengaluru.

Earlier scheme received poor response

The property regularisation scheme was first introduced in 2020, but it reportedly failed to attract the expected response from residents.

While the BDA had anticipated nearly one lakh applications, only around 600 property owners reportedly applied under the earlier scheme.

Officials attributed the poor response primarily to the high regularisation fees calculated using 2020 guidance values, even for buildings constructed before 2008.

Residents had argued that the charges were financially unreasonable because they were being asked to pay present-day property rates for buildings occupied more than a decade earlier.

The issue led to widespread dissatisfaction among applicants and significantly reduced participation in the scheme.

BDA announces major fee reduction

To improve response this time, the BDA has introduced substantial reductions in regularisation charges.

Officials described the revised fee structure as a “reconciliatory measure” intended to make the process more affordable for property owners.

Under the revised structure, the fee reductions are categorised based on property size:

Revised regularisation fee cuts

  • 5 per cent for properties measuring 200 to 600 sq ft
  • 12.5 per cent for properties measuring 600 to 900 sq ft
  • 20 per cent for properties measuring 1,200 to 2,400 sq ft
  • 25 per cent for properties measuring 2,400 to 4,000 sq ft

Additionally, a broader 50 per cent reduction in regularisation charges will be available during the 100-day application period beginning June 15.

BDA officials expressed confidence that the revised rates would encourage significantly higher participation compared to the earlier attempt.

Revenue boost and urban planning goals

The authority believes the scheme could provide a major financial boost while helping streamline land and property records in Bengaluru.

Urban experts say regularisation schemes are often used by civic authorities to address decades-old land disputes and unplanned development in rapidly expanding cities.

However, such measures also tend to attract criticism from planners and activists who argue that repeated regularisation may indirectly encourage unauthorised construction.

Despite the debate, the BDA maintains that the scheme is necessary to resolve existing complications and provide relief to thousands of affected property owners.

Further details regarding the application process and documentation requirements are expected to be announced before the scheme opens on June 15.