Bengaluru: After a gap of about a decade, the urban planning body Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) has invited applications for the allotment of 5,000 sites at the Kempegowda Layout along Mysore Road – Magadi Road in South West Bengaluru making it highly unaffordable for the common man.
Considering the steep hike in land prices and realty sector, there has been a huge demand for affordable and litigation-free sites. But, it appears that the BDA has dashed the hopes of citizens with its premium prices for sites that too formed on the outskirts of the city. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, president of Arkavathy Layout Allottees’ Association (ALAA) president G. Shivaprakash said that when lakhs of aspirants were waiting to own sites in Bengaluru it sounded ridiculous to invite applications for just 5,000 sites of different dimensions. Already about 8000 allottees are yet to get a site.
“The BDA has not told them if they will get sites at the newly formed Kempegowda layout and how many will be considered for alternate sites. At least BDA should have informed the Arkavathy allottees whether to apply or not. The wait is just getting longer for poor allottees,” he added.
Getting a site allotted from BDA is a long and tedious process. First of all, citizens can apply till December end. Further, the BDA authorities have to sort out applications and shortlist the beneficiaries based on the maximum number of attempts. Dispatching allotment letters and registration takes at least three months. Besides, the BDA will have all power on denotification as the BDA executes lease-cum-sale-deed for about 10 years. BDA is also notoriously indisciplined when it comes to meeting deadlines.
In case the layout formation is mired in litigation or legal hurdles, the general public who would have paid their deposits would have to wait for long even to have their money returned. Except for sites earmarked for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and 20X30 feet dimension sites, other sites are priced very prohibitively. There is hardly any motivation for buying BDA sites, added Mr. Shivaprakash.
BDA must ensure that these projects are completed in a time bound manner and faith of the people is restored, he felt. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, BDA commissioner T. Sham Bhat said that there was little scope for litigation. Sites are being formed in land which is free from any kind of litigation. Further, the BDA plans to form about 20,000 sites and in the first phase 5,000 sites will be allotted.
The cost of land acquisition is also very high. However, the BDA is balancing and making sites at affordable prices and more affordable for EWS and for 20X30 feet dimension sites, said Mr. Bhat.
BDA should opt for vertical growth to avoid acquisition of large tracts of land
The BDA being the urban planning body must focus on bringing about urban reforms in town building and making the place livable. Considering the urban sprawl, it is high time that the BDA shapes the future of the city by going for vertical growth rather than horizontal growth, felt urban expert and founder president of Citizens’ Action Forum (CAF) N. Mukunda.
The BDA’s approach towards town building gives an impression that the officials have connived with private builders. The prices of sites of BDA sites are so high it would drive people to buy private sites, he opined.
The BDA must focus on town planning measures by making suitable amendments rather than giving a raw deal to builders. Vertical growth prevents acquisition of large tracts of land and hitting litigations and legal hurdles.
In sync with the vertical growth of the city it should be supplemented with adequate and wider roads, footpaths, play grounds and lung space. Efforts must be made to ensure adequate civic amenities like drinking water, electricity, lung space and water treatment plants by making use of the technology. Transportation is given a pass by planners making every common man suffer, he felt. “The cost of the sites is not affordable at all. I am sure the Kempegowda Layout will also be entangled in legal hurdle as the BDA is forming sites in bits and pieces. There won’t be proper approach roads and it cannot be a complete layout. The BDA has not maintained transparency in fixing the price of the site,” said Mr. Mukunda.
Sites sold by private builders are available at a much cheaper price compared to BDA formed sites. In fact, private builders offer more facilities and are ready to construct houses.
BDA commissioner T. Sham Bhat said that land has been acquired from farmers with their consent. There is little scope for litigation. Besides, in some cases, farmers have agreed to accept 50 per cent of monetary compensation and 20 per cent of the developed land.
Since the cost of land acquisition was high, the price of sites may appear high. However, BDA has made measures to provide smaller dimension sites and sites for EWS at affordable prices, said Mr. Bhat.
High and mighty pitch for G category sites
Soon after the BDA announced allotment of 5,000 sites, the BDA is getting enquiries from MLAs MLCs and MPs about the availability of sites through G Category.
Some of the aspirants are those who have already been allotted BDA sites. Following the announcement Chief Minister Siddramaiah’s announcement on allotment of G category sites, many public representatives are lobbying hard for the plots.
The government is yet to take action on the Padmaraja commission committee report on the allotment of G Category sites, but Mr Siddaramaiah has again announced allotments under the category. BDA officials said they were caught in a bind as requests have been pouring in from high and mighty.
