BDA plots in limbo: No more litigation-free and clear titles

The year 2014 has already started to make its presence felt in the Bangalore real estate market, by shattering the dream of many aspirants of owning a Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) site. The sole reason being the fact that such sites no longer will be litigation-free and will not be equipped with clear titles.

BDA sites were eyed as the only feasible housing option in the IT hub of the nation, where real estate prices have been shooting up in the last few years. However, with the BDA tangled in numerous legal land acquisition issues, most of its layouts are in a state of oblivion. The dearth of prime land, the presence of land sharks and burgeoning prices gives evidence to the fact that BDA’s layout honeymoon phase has come to a tail end.

Instance

Visvesvaraya layout, one of the sites shaped by BDA nearly a decade ago, bears witness to the fact that many site owners have suffered the fatal blow of losing their plot on account of land denotification. For this reason, BDA had to phase out its plan to 8000 sites from 20000 sites, however a number of allottees are still waiting for possession.

Price Bands

As per the revised rates in 2012 by the BDA, for a 20×30 sq ft and a 30×40 sqft plot, the civic body will charge 25% and 40% of the guidance value respectively. While for 40×60 sqft and 50×80 sqft plot, the BDA will charge 170% and 190% of the guidance value, respectively

Rising cost-the persisting issue

Rising cost of land is one of the persisting issues, which have been troubling the BDA for quite a long time. As per experts, land acquisition issues has been one of the primary causes that has stymied most of the BDA’s schemes, and most of can be attributed to rising cost. Making matters worse, the BDA offered a compensation of Rs 80 lakh-Rs 1 crore for those land losers seeking monetary relief, however, it emerged as a major blunder for the authority. According to property consultants, giving away sites at reasonable rates has taken a toll on BDA’s financial’s health.

The increase in the price of BDA plots has come up as a rude shock for the people of Bangalore. In few areas, where prices have been increased by 200-600% (as in the case of proposed Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda Layout) hopes to acquire a BDA plot in the future has completely shattered for the allottees. A 30×40 sqft site in off Magadi Road, west Bangalore now costs nearly Rs 23 lakh stating a three-fold increase in comparison to Rs 7.5 lakh in 2004.