A recent survey conducted by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has uncovered approximately 200 unauthorized buildings across Bengaluru. This initiative follows the tragic collapse of an under-construction building in Babusapalya that resulted in nine fatalities. The survey, which began on October 29, aims to enhance safety measures in the city’s rapidly growing urban landscape by identifying building violations, as reported by The Hindu.
Tushar Giri Nath, Chief Commissioner of the BBMP, announced that the Revenue Department has developed a specialized mobile app designed to streamline the identification of building violations. Originally created for property tax purposes, the app now also allows BBMP officials to cross-check building plans against current structures, quickly revealing discrepancies and unauthorized constructions.
When a photo of a building is uploaded, the app instantly retrieves property details, enabling officials to compare the actual structure with its sanctioned plan within minutes. A dedicated team of 70 officials, including revenue staff and engineers, is currently using the app to survey various areas across the city, focusing on eight zones. Preliminary findings indicate that the Mahadevapura zone has identified 65 unauthorized buildings, while the West zone has flagged 27. Data from other zones is still being processed, suggesting that the total number of illegal structures may exceed 200.
BBMP officials have proposed potential upgrades to the app to assess the severity of violations, which would help determine if minor infractions could be regularized through the issuance of a ‘B Khata.’ This classification allows buildings that deviate from approved plans to be documented, with examples including assigning an ‘A Khata’ for the original structure and a ‘B Khata’ for any unauthorized additions.
Read Also: