A Right to Information (RTI) query has revealed that many commercial establishments in Indiranagar are running without a valid trade license. On Wednesday morning, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) received an application through the Right to Information Act seeking transparency in issuing trade licenses in the Hoysala Nagar ward for the fiscal year 2023-24. The response was that as many as 378 licenses were indeed issued. But residents say that around 300 odd unlicensed shops are operating in the same ward.
Licensing Disparity
Sneha Nandihal appeared for the residential association and argued that the licensing disparity was massive. She pointed out, “Nearly 90 percent of licenses have been given to businesses operating on main roads while hundreds are running illegally in narrow bylanes.”
Data on Licensing
The imbalance in the number of licensed and unlicensed businesses isn’t particular to Hoysala Nagar. This trend can be observed across the city. Data from BBMP shows a total of 46,133 licenses across eight zones in Bengaluru up to 2023-24, an increase from the last fiscal year’s 42,907. Renewals for the year 2024-25 added 32,924 to make it 36,660.
| Year | New Licenses | Renewed Licenses | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 12,848 | 30,059 | 42,907 |
| 2023-24 | 13,660 | 32,473 | 46,133 |
| 2024-25* | 3,736 | 32,924 | 36,660 |
*Data till June 2024
However, most acknowledge that the total number of establishments existing and functioning is greater than the above numbers. Surolkar Vikas Kishore, the Special Commissioner of Health and Sanitation at the BBMP, remembers finding 3,000 unlicensed establishments in a single zone during his tenure.
Citizen’s Criticism of BBMP’s Approach
Citizens have criticized the working pattern of BBMP on the grounds that it acts only on complaints and does not seriously enforce licensing norms. Murali Govindarajulu, committee member for Whitefield ward, said, “BBMP neither issues licenses to these establishments nor takes action against them without complaints.”
Parking Issues and Valet Services
Parking is another major problem that got accelerated by these unlicensed establishments. The licensing by the BBMP does not have any conditions for parking space. So all licensed establishments hire out their allocated parking spaces to add to available parking space, which in turn contributes to the traffic on streets. People also complain that the valet services on residential streets violate court orders that ban the running of commercial parking on residential streets.
BBMP’s Stand and Proposal for the Future
The BBMP is now considering relaxing licensing norms to achieve better control over commercial establishments and enhanced revenue. “We want to license business on smaller roads while congestion issues are addressed on main thoroughfares lacking in adequate width,” elaborated Mr. Kishore.
Conclusion
The RTI by the Indiranagar residents throws excellent light on the issue of unlicensed shops and the more significant troubles of urban regulation in Bengaluru. The steps proposed by BBMP to ease licensing norms and the message on addressing parking issues point towards some respite with well-regulated business and urban planning.
