BENGALURU: Property owners with B-khata are looking to convert their holdings to A-khata under a government initiative set to launch on November 1. The first step for them is to acquire an e-khata before proceeding with the conversion.
Under this initiative, B-khata plots up to 21,527 sq ft along public roads qualify for A-khata conversion.
However, the new digital requirement has left many residents feeling frustrated as it adds another layer of bureaucracy to an already lengthy process.
Property owners must also pay a 5% fee based on the property’s guidance value, in addition to other charges for land mutation and map approval.
“This e-khata requirement has taken everyone by surprise. Many of us have already started gathering the necessary documents for A-khata conversion,” stated a property owner from Rajarajeshwarinagar in Bengaluru.
According to GBA revenue department data, Bengaluru has 750,000 B-khata properties, but only 260,000 have received e-khata so far. The West Corporation leads with 72,000 conversions, followed by North (69,000) and East (62,816). Rajarajeshwarinagar tops the list with 123,000 B-khata properties converted to e-khata, trailed by Bengaluru South and Anekal (103,000), Chickpet (84,000), and Shivakumar Nagar (78,000).
In defense of the government’s decision, Munish Moudgil, special commissioner (revenue) of GBA, stated, “People are unnecessarily creating trouble. Without an e-khata, we cannot verify the authenticity of ownership documents. Allowing manual khatas would lead to corruption and misuse.”
Moudgil clarified that only site owners and those with buildings are eligible in this phase, excluding flat owners.
Residents contend that the issues go beyond paperwork. “B-khata properties are deemed irregular, preventing us from getting building plan approvals or securing home loans,” expressed Kumar Rao, a resident of Hebbal. “We’ve been living in a legal grey area for years,” he added.
A senior GBA revenue official remarked that the overarching goal of the conversion initiative is to enhance tax compliance. “Many B-khata properties lack official records, resulting in lost property tax revenue. Integrating them into the A-khata framework will help expand the city’s tax base and facilitate infrastructure development,” the official further explained.
