Buyer Alert: 258 unauthorized Layouts Identified by BDA

BDA flags 258 illegal layouts in Bengaluru, warns buyers of risks, while stricter Khata reforms spark debate over planning rules and buyer protection

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has flagged 258 layouts across the city as unauthorised and is preparing a public awareness campaign to caution property buyers. Officials plan to release 20–30 notices explaining what qualifies as a legal layout, the approvals required, and which agencies hold jurisdiction. The drive, beginning in Budigere, highlights risks of purchasing plots carved out of agricultural, green-belt, or valley land without statutory sanction. Such sites are vulnerable to demolition and often fail to qualify for A‑khata certification.

A BDA survey conducted last year identified 278 unauthorised settlements in East, South, and North Bengaluru taluks, including Yelahanka, Anekal, and Jigani. In many of these areas, agricultural land was informally converted into residential plots, with only rudimentary infrastructure such as roads and electricity poles in place.

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Meanwhile, the state government is drafting stricter guidelines for converting B‑khata properties into A‑khata, claiming this will enhance buyer protection. However, activists caution that broad amnesty measures could undermine planning regulations, legitimise poorly designed layouts, and weaken enforcement. The debate underscores the tension between safeguarding homebuyers and ensuring adherence to urban planning norms.

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