BBMP suspends 2,000 building plan approvals over land conversion issues

In a significant regulatory move, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has put a hold on around 2,000 building plan approvals due to non-compliance with land conversion regulations. The decision, issued by the BBMP Chief Commissioner, affects properties in areas lacking proper land-use conversion, even if they have already been granted property khatas (title deeds).

This move is aimed at enforcing stricter adherence to the Karnataka Town and Country Planning (KTCP) Act. The law mandates that any development under Bengaluru’s planning authority must receive prior land conversion approval. However, the BBMP has reportedly been approving plans for plots smaller than 20,000 square meters without obtaining necessary layout clearances—a violation of the Karnataka Urban and Rural Planning Act.

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The Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) had previously instructed the BBMP to halt issuing khatas and building approvals for plots without layout approval in converted areas. Following this, the BBMP issued an internal order suspending plan approvals, creating a backlog of applications.

This decision has sparked concern among property owners, particularly in localities like Bommanahalli, Mahadevapura, RR Nagar, Dasarahalli, and Yelahanka, where e-khatas were previously accepted without full layout approval. Architects and engineers have petitioned the BBMP for a policy review, citing public inconvenience caused by the suspension.

The BBMP has yet to respond to the growing concerns from the public and industry stakeholders.