BENGALURU: Several engineers from the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) are urging senior officials to contest the Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority (K-Rera) order issued on Nov 7, which classifies the agency as a promoter under the Rera Act. However, sources indicate that BDA chairman NA Harris is reluctant to pursue an appeal, causing unrest within the organization.
A senior bureaucrat commented, “The engineers are pressing the government to file an appeal to exempt the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) from Rera’s jurisdiction. Their primary concern is straightforward: the BDA has a history of delays. Being under Rera means they will be legally obligated to complete projects on time—an expectation that officials acknowledge will be quite challenging.”
BDA Commissioner Manivannan P stated that any decision will follow established procedures: “We will pursue an appeal based on legal advice; a board meeting is scheduled for December to further discuss this matter.”
The K-Rera order, stemming from a petition regarding NPKL delays, mandates that all BDA layouts and housing schemes comply with Rera regulations, which include mandatory registration, progress reporting, and financial transparency.
The BDA previously argued that it is a statutory body rather than a real estate promoter, emphasizing that its projects are focused on public welfare. Rera, however, rejected this argument, referencing Section 2(zk)(iii), which classifies any public agency that develops and sells land or buildings to the public as a promoter.
Rera dismissed BDA’s welfare claims, noting that “even non-profit promoters fall under Rera when they engage in real estate sales.”
Furthermore, Rera has instructed the BDA to register the NPKL project, including submitting sanctioned plans, layout approvals, financial details, and current development status.
