GBA to introduce passport-style centres for quick e-Khata services across Bengaluru

Major announcement comes as GBA details extensive road works, pothole repairs and solid-waste reforms

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is set to launch passport-style service centres across the city to help residents obtain e-Khata certificates more efficiently. The new centres are designed to eliminate the older round-robin system, which often caused delays and inconsistencies in document processing.

At a press conference held at the GBA headquarters, Tushar Giri Nath, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, said the upcoming model aims to ensure greater transparency and faster service delivery.

Also Read:IPL will not move out of Bengaluru, declares DK Shivakumar amid Chinnaswamy uncertainty

Providing an update on the city’s road network, M. Maheshwar Rao, GBA Chief Commissioner, said that 22,539 potholes have been repaired to date. He noted that continuous rainfall slowed progress but confirmed that long-term strategies are being prepared to control potholes more effectively next year. Bengaluru has 1,682 km of major roads, many of which have not received funding for over eight years, making the ongoing improvements crucial for easing traffic congestion.

The GBA is currently executing a ₹4,800-crore road development programme. Under this plan:

•    157 km of roads are being white-topped at ₹273 crore.
•    79 km of high-density corridors are being upgraded at ₹694 crore.
•    392 km of roads are being black-topped at ₹694 crore.

All white-topping and black-topping works are scheduled for completion by March 2026, while other tender-stage projects are expected to conclude by June 2026. Officials clarified that MG Road will not be white-topped due to high traffic loads and restrictions from the city’s traffic police. Instead, it will undergo black-topping to minimise disruptions in the Central Business District.

Also Read:Goa nightclub fire claims 25 Lives; probe ordered into safety violations

The authority also confirmed that tenders have been invited for 33 new packages for solid-waste collection and disposal. These tenders had been delayed for two years owing to a pending legal case, which has now been resolved, allowing implementation to proceed.

With the rollout of passport-style centres, extensive road upgrades and a fresh waste-management framework, the GBA aims to significantly improve service delivery and urban mobility across Bengaluru.