Tag: Greater Bengaluru Authority

IndustryLatest Stories

Bengaluru: City Corporations Can Buy Properties for Tax Recovery

BENGALURU: As property tax defaulters continue to disregard multiple notices and auction alerts, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is considering a new strategy. Officials are looking into the option of municipal corporations buying these properties at their guidance value to recoup overdue taxes. In the past, legal actions such as issuing demand notices, seizing properties, and conducting public auctions have been implemented to recover debts. However, despite these efforts, few property owners opted to comply, and auctions often attracted no bidders, resulting in unmet revenue expectations. Consequently, authorities are now contemplating the direct acquisition of properties as a last resort.…

IndustryLatest Stories

A-khata Maze: High Costs, Delays in Bengaluru Approvals

BENGALURU: For thousands of property owners in the city, obtaining an A-khata remains a significant challenge, with only 818 properties receiving this designation in the past six months, according to official data. The process for converting B-khata properties into legally recognized A-khata properties was made public on October 15 last year. Despite there being an estimated 820,000 B-khata properties in Bengaluru, only 8,308 applications have been submitted, with only about 10% approved, leaving around 7,490 applications still pending. “The primary hurdle isn’t administrative delays but the lack of proper documentation from applicants. Many property owners do not have approved layout…

IndustryLatest Stories

Waste Charges Delay Property Tax Payments in Bengaluru Apartments

BENGALURU: Large apartment complexes are typically quick to pay their annual property tax to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) when the payment portal opens in April. However, this year’s response in the first two weeks has been surprisingly slow. The confusion arises from unclear definitions and calculations surrounding bulk waste generators, hindering early tax payments. There is ongoing confusion about solid waste management (SWM) charges, especially for apartment complexes that produce over 100 kg of waste per day. Although bulk waste generators can qualify for exemptions, they must declare their status on the property tax portal, which is proving to…

IndustryLatest Stories

Bengaluru’s 15% Building Deviation Plan Sparks Expert Debate

Representative Image BENGALURU: A proposed amendment to the city’s building bylaws is raising red flags amid fears it could legitimize existing construction violations. While the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) claims the intent isn’t revenue generation, urban activists argue that the revised compounding fees will boost collections for civic corporations. The amendment suggests increasing the permissible deviation limit from 5% to 15% for several factors, including setbacks, floor area ratio (FAR), plot coverage, and building height. A new structured compounding fee system would enable property owners to regularize such deviations by paying penalties and acquiring occupancy certificates (OCs) that were previously…

IndustryLatest Stories

Bengaluru may allow 15% deviation from building plans

BENGALURU: In a significant move for property owners struggling to secure occupancy certificates due to minor deviations, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is set to increase the permissible deviation from sanctioned building plans from 5% to 15%. The GBA’s draft notification proposes an amendment to the 2003 building bye-laws, suggesting a notable shift in urban regulatory policy. Enforcement actions, including potential demolition, will continue for deviations exceeding 15%. Stakeholders can submit objections and suggestions until April 30, after which the amendments will be finalized. Under current regulations, any construction surpassing the approved plan by more than 5% is deemed unauthorized,…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Bengaluru property tax receipts at ₹4,047 crore, 40% below target

BENGALURU: Property tax collection in the city has once again fallen short this financial year, highlighting ongoing compliance issues even as enforcement efforts are ramped up. With only days remaining in the 2025-26 fiscal year, the collections have reached Rs 4,047.7 crore against a target of Rs 6,700 crore, resulting in a shortfall of over Rs 2,652 crore and an overall realization of approximately 60%. The target includes outstanding amounts from previous years. As of March 20, Rs 4,047.7 crore has been collected, comprising Rs 3,286 crore in property taxes for this fiscal year, along with Rs 761.7 crore in…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Bengaluru issues final warning to 1,010 property tax defaulters

BENGALURU: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has issued a final warning to property owners who are overdue on their property taxes, with a total of Rs 33.9 crore pending from 1,010 property owners across the five city corporations. Special Commissioner (Revenue) Munish Moudgil stated that Rs 14.3 crore is owed by 510 significant defaulters, while Rs 19.6 crore is awaiting resolution in 500 property tax reassessment cases. “Zonal joint commissioners have been directed to accelerate the recovery from major defaulters and those in reassessment. The list of the top 50 defaulters and reassessment cases for each municipal corporation is now…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Karnataka CM: Goal is to Make Bengaluru World’s Most Liveable City

BENGALURU: On Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled several initiatives aimed at transforming Bengaluru into the “world’s most liveable city.” During the presentation of the 2026-27 Budget, he indicated that the five City Corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority will leverage their balance sheets to issue ‘Municipal Bonds’ for development activities. “Bengaluru is not just a city; it embodies numerous aspirations. From Nadaprabhu Kempegowda’s administration to the ongoing start-up boom, the city has preserved its distinctive identity. Our goal is to enhance Bengaluru into the world’s most liveable city,” Siddaramaiah stated. The Chief Minister announced that the development of ward…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

HC Orders Reinspection of Stormwater Drains near Apartments

BENGALURU: The high court has instructed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), now known as the GBA, to reassess lands in Gubbalala village, Bengaluru South taluk, where two apartment complexes are located. This comes after a government-commissioned expert committee reported encroachments into stormwater drains. In his ruling, Justice R Nataraj stated that if the petitioners suggest an alternative drain alignment, the GBA must review it to ensure the unobstructed flow of water into Subramanyapura Lake, while also considering the interests of adjacent landowners. The judge added that should the petitioners fail to submit an alignment proposal within 15 days from…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Bengaluru’s civic bodies meet just 57.96% of property tax goal

BENGALURU: The tax collection landscape in Bengaluru reveals a stark contrast between the South and North regions. With only a few weeks remaining in the financial year, the city’s five corporations have collectively gathered just 57.96% of their property tax target for the fiscal year 2025-26, highlighting a significant gap between expectations and actual revenue. The South corporation has proven to be the strongest performer thus far. It has collected ₹745.33 crore against a goal of ₹1,228.85 crore, achieving 60.65%—the highest rate among all five corporations. They’ve steadily maintained this momentum leading up to the year’s end. Conversely, the North…