In a significant move to boost municipal revenues and regulate urban development, the Karnataka government has decided to expand a key property regularisation scheme across the entire state. Previously limited to Bengaluru, the initiative to convert B-khata properties into A-khata will now be rolled out in all urban centres of Karnataka.
Statewide Expansion of the Regularisation Drive
The state cabinet, in its meeting on Thursday, gave the green light for this major policy expansion. The scheme, which was launched exclusively for Greater Bengaluru on November 1, is now set to cover unauthorised layouts in every city and town. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil stated that the urban development department will finalise the operational details. "The idea is to instill confidence among property owners across the state and help the govt in streamlining and regulating the properties. Revenue increase is yet to be estimated," Patil explained after the cabinet meeting.
This expansion is expected to bring a vast number of properties into the formal regulatory fold. While the Bengaluru rollout targeted nearly 15 lakh properties, the statewide expansion could cover an additional 10 lakh properties, including vacant sites, situated in unauthorised layouts.
Key Guidelines and Eligibility Criteria
The government has laid down specific guidelines for properties seeking this conversion. To be eligible, a property must be on a plot not larger than 30x40 feet and must have proper road connectivity. A crucial clause states that if access is through a private road, it must first be declared a public road before an A-khata can be issued.
Furthermore, the scheme will operate under revenue laws. Agricultural land must be converted for non-agricultural use before applying, unless the property already falls within the master plan area of a local body. This step is vital for ensuring planned urban growth.
Implications for Property Owners and Urban Governance
The conversion offers substantial benefits to property owners. Once a building on an eligible plot receives A-khata, it becomes eligible for official construction permission and occupancy certificates, significantly enhancing its legal standing and market value.
However, the process also involves acknowledging past violations. Since B-khata is issued for unauthorised constructions, the guidelines note that A-khata will be granted only after declaring that the building was constructed in violation of zonal regulations. Alternatively, A-khata can be issued directly if the building is brought into conformity with the zonal regulations and the master plan.
A critical detail yet to be decided is the conversion fee for properties outside Bengaluru. For Greater Bengaluru, the fee was set at 5% of the government's guidance value of the property. The fee structure for the rest of the state's urban centres will be determined by the authorities soon.
This statewide expansion marks a decisive shift in Karnataka's approach to urban management. By bringing a massive inventory of unauthorised properties into the formal tax and regulatory system, the government aims to unlock significant revenue streams while providing lakhs of property owners with legal security and better access to civic amenities.
