BENGALURU: Incidents of norm violations during building construction are becoming increasingly prevalent in the city, raising concerns about the accountability of civic authorities overseeing development.
The engineers of the City Corporation are tasked with inspecting construction sites to ensure compliance with building bye-laws and approved plans at various stages.
The most recent case involves a building under construction on Ranga Rao Road, Shankarapuram, within the Kempegowda Nagar Sub-Division of Bengaluru Central City Corporation, allegedly in violation of regulations.
Construction reportedly commenced in February, with concerns arising when concrete pillars began to obstruct a nearby drain, threatening public infrastructure.
The Shankarapuram Police registered a non-cognizable report on March 17, 2026, against Shilpa Kushal Chand and Anil, following a complaint from Anil Kumar, a social thinker and activist.
In his complaint, Anil Kumar alleged that the ongoing construction was blocking the drain and could lead to further civic complications.
The Assistant Executive Engineer issued a notice on March 25, 2026, indicating that the construction was encroaching on the drain. The notice demanded immediate repairs and the submission of documents related to the building plans, warning that non-compliance would lead to action under the GBA Act 2024.
Subsequently, on April 1, the Assistant Director (Town Planning-2) issued another notice stating that the construction at the plinth level was damaging public property, especially the drain, violating provisions of the GBA Act. It ordered repairs and compliance with setback rules, requiring a response within seven days and halting construction immediately.
However, on April 7, Anil and Shilpa Kushal Chand responded to the Assistant Director, asserting that they had not violated any construction norms. They explained that they were replacing a 50-year-old building with a new one at the same location and had not caused any damage to the drain, requesting an inspection of the site to confirm this.
It remains to be seen whether the authorities will inspect the site to prevent further damage, avert flooding during the monsoon, and manage water accumulation.
