Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday announced a series of citizen-centric initiatives as part of the Bangalore Development Authority’s (BDA) 50th anniversary, including an opportunity for over one lakh residents to regularise houses built on BDA-acquired land by paying reduced charges.

The initiatives also include allotment of incentive sites to farmers who voluntarily surrendered land for BDA projects, regularisation of marginal land adjoining allotted sites and issuance of absolute sale deeds to more than 20,000 existing site owners.

December 17, 2026, is the deadline for applications under the announced schemes.

“Our intention is to provide a legal guarantee of land ownership to people residing in Bengaluru,” Shivakumar told reporters here.

Under the amended Section 38D of the BDA Act, people who constructed houses on BDA-acquired land before 2008 can apply for regularisation by paying charges based on the property’s guidance value. The government has reduced the rates by half compared to the earlier provisions.

The revised charges are five per cent, 12.5 per cent, 20 per cent and 25 per cent of the guidance value, against the earlier rates of 10 per cent, 25 per cent, 40 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively, across the prescribed categories based on site dimensions.

The earlier scheme, intended to benefit around one lakh property owners, had received only about 600 applications as people considered the charges too high, he said.

“We have reduced the rates prescribed by the BJP government by half. We are giving them time until December 17, 2026, to apply and update their documents. This is a major opportunity,” he said.

The amendment has been passed by the Assembly, notified in the Gazette and approved by the Governor, he said, adding that applicants would be given another two months to make the prescribed payment after submitting their applications.

The three-month application period cannot be extended as it has been stipulated by law, Shivakumar said warning that authorities might initiate action against unauthorised occupants as the land belongs to the government.

Applicants must establish their possession through documents such as electricity and water bills or entries in the voters’ list. Both online and offline application facilities would be available, and the BDA would publicise the areas covered by the scheme.

“We cannot give land to people who are simply occupying open spaces or roads. It is government land acquired by the BDA,” he said.

The second initiative concerns farmers who voluntarily surrendered land without litigation for BDA projects, particularly the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout. They will be eligible for one incentive site for every acre surrendered, subject to applicable rules.

The scheme, based on provisions dating back to 2011, has remained pending since 2014. Some landowners had accepted monetary compensation but were yet to receive the promised incentive sites.

“We have decided to provide sites to those who voluntarily surrendered their land to the BDA without any litigation,” he said.

Shivakumar also asked eligible landowners to submit applications by December 17.

There would be no lucky draw for the allotment, and sites would be provided wherever available, including in the Kempegowda Layout, he said.

As a mark of gratitude, the BDA would display the names of landowners who voluntarily surrendered their properties without litigation on a ‘Wall of Gratitude’ in the layout, he said.

Under the third initiative, people with marginal government land measuring up to 600 square feet adjoining their BDA-allotted sites can apply for its allotment by paying the applicable guidance value. December 17 would be the last date for applications under this category.

The fourth initiative is aimed at providing absolute sale deeds to more than 20,000 site owners who currently possess only lease-cum-sale deeds issued by the BDA or the erstwhile City Improvement Trust Board (CITB).

Eligible owners whose lease periods have expired can apply for absolute sale deeds without paying any additional amount, except nominal stamp paper charges. The BDA will provide the remaining documentation service free of cost, he said.

“Those who have obtained sites through CITB or the BDA should check their documents and ascertain whether they possess an absolute sale deed or only a lease-cum-sale deed,” he said.

Shivakumar also appealed to property owners not to leave their allotted sites vacant and to construct houses or compound walls to prevent encroachments. The government had given four to five years for construction, he said.

The BDA would issue notices to industrial plot allottees who had failed to establish industries despite receiving land 10 to 15 years ago, asking them either to utilise the properties or surrender them.

Officials had also been directed to take steps, including imposing double taxes wherever applicable, on properties left vacant, he said.

As part of the 50th anniversary initiatives, the BDA would construct a landmark building on its premises without opting for a public-private partnership.

The authority plans to increase its existing office space of 50,000 square feet to 1.5 lakh square feet and lease the additional space to private entities or government agencies offering higher rent, he said.

Referring to the allotment process in Shivaram Karanth Layout, the CM said administrative charges payable by farmers had been reduced by 50 per cent and the initiative would ensure transparency in site allotments.

He also said BDA Chairman Harris had introduced weekly open house meetings with officials of different zones every Friday to address citizens’ grievances and make the authority more accessible.

“The BDA has completed 50 years. We want to transform it into a citizen-friendly authority and provide clean and transparent administration,” he said.