BDA offers sites in Dr. K. Shivaram Karanth Layout in Bengaluru at ₹6,000/sqft

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When the BDA first initiated the allotment process in Dr. K. Shivaram Karanth Layout in December 2023, it had fixed the price at ₹4,900 per sq. ft. | Photo Credit: File photo

After a gap of a decade, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) on Monday, August 31, reopened its portal for applications for site allotment, this time in the much-awaited Dr. K. Shivaram Karanth Layout. The last time the BDA allotted sites was in Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) in July 2016.

Site prices have soared from ₹2,000 per sq. ft. in NPKL to ₹6,000 per sq. ft. in the Dr. K. Shivaram Karanth Layout. This means a 30x40 site, the most preferred by middle-class Bengalureans, will cost a whopping ₹72 lakh.

When the BDA first initiated the allotment process in the layout in December 2023, it had fixed the price at ₹4,900 per sq. ft. However, the process was stayed by the Karnataka High Court over the issue of compensation to land losers. In less than three years, the price has appreciated by ₹1,100 per sq. ft.

On July 16, the high court allowed BDA to invite and process applications for site allotment in the layout, based on which BDA has now opened the portal for receiving applications. However, the court said that the BDA cannot allot sites and that would depend on further directions issued by it.

The deadline for the process will be communicated soon, senior BDA officials confirmed to The Hindu.

This came on a day when about 18,300 farmers who had given land for the layout, were allotted sites by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The beneficiaries will now have to produce the necessary documents and complete the formalities to claim their sites.

BDA chairman N.A. Haris said the developed layout had achieved a yield of 55%, with 49.38% of the total developed land being returned to landowners as sites.

This is expected to clear the decks for allotment of sites to the general public.

Speaking after distributing the site allotment letters, the chief minister said that the government had been trying to distribute compensation for the past three years and had invited applications, but the process was delayed due to court proceedings. “A court stay had also delayed the process of inviting applications for site allotment, resulting in a loss of ₹1,000 crore to the government every year. The layout, spread across 3,700 acres, has seen an investment of ₹16,000 crore,” he said.

He further appealed to the farmers who were to receive sites in the layout as part of the compensation package not to sell them. He further said the government was also working on a revised compensation mechanism for farmers whose land was acquired for BDA projects.

“While the existing system required compensation based on old rates, the government had proposed providing twice the guidance value, double TDR, or 35% of the land as commercial sites, FAR or 40% of the developed land. “We have taken this to the Cabinet to ensure farmers are not treated unfairly. The highest compensation in the country has been provided,” he said.

Mr.