Kempe Gowda layout first phase in four months

Civil works on the Kempe Gowda layout are expected to be completed in about two to four months on an area of 2,070 acres that have been handed over to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) in the first phase by the State government.

Around 17,000 sites are expected to be completed in this phase. Road and drain works are going on and will be followed by numbering of sites.

The layout, coming up between Magadi Road and Mysuru Road in South Western Bengaluru, covers a total area of 4,043 acres. Of the first phase of 17,000 sites, 4,500 would be given to the land owners or those who have lent land for the layout, while 5,000 sites would be given to the general public. The total number of sites to be formed in the entire layout is 40,569.

The civil works are being interrupted by rain. “The BDA has been taking up road and drain works at Kempe Gowda layout, but we are unable to do the work fast owing to rain. We hope to finish the work on the 2,070 acres in about two to four months. In this phase, we will mark 17,000 sites. Next, we will take up work on the rest 1,973 acres land that has to be released by the government,” BDA engineers said.

A portion of the total land in Kempe Gowda layout, to the extent of 450 acres, is being reserved for BDA flats for the general public. Currently, a detailed project report is underway on the extent of demand for the flats, prices and size of construction.

Only for general public
Depending on the purchasing power of the people and their preference, the size of the BDA flats would be determined. BDA officials say the flats would be sold only to the general public and would not be given as compensation. This, they say, is based on the success of sales of flats in other areas of the City in the past.

Just as there has been delay in the formation of Arkavathy layout due to litigation, Kempe Gowda layout too faces a similar problem. Owners who have been forced to part with land have moved the courts to take back their land or at least a portion of the developed land.

“A single bench order of the High Court had ordered that land be returned, but a division bench had quashed the order of the single bench and upheld acquisition, with the rider that a portion of the developed land would have to be given back to the land owners.
The ratio of developed land to be given was of the order of 40:60 (40 per cent for land owners and 60 per cent for site buyers). The farmers (land owners) had the freedom to choose developed land in any part of the layout. The BDA is fighting some of these cases and is gradually overcoming hurdles. Cash compensation being paid to land owners in the area is Rs one crore for each acre of land. Owners are being given the option of taking cash only, developed land only or a combination of both,” BDA officials said.

Litigation is also the cause behind the Arkavathy layout formation with land owners, site allottees and aspirants up in arms against the way the formation of the layout is going on.