Time running out for allottees as BDA drags its feet on KG Layout

Allottees of Nada Prabhu Kempegowda Layout are demanding that Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) maintain transparency in developing the layout.

Fearing that the BDA may take years to develop the layout, the allottees, under the banner Nada Prabhu Kempegowda Layout Site Owners’ and Residents’ Welfare Association have filed a writ petition in the High Court of Karnataka against BDA for delaying layout formation, not providing information on progress of work and not setting any deadline to complete the work.

They point out that delays are costing allottees dearly.  Anil Navali, an association member said the BDA, without developing the layout, is forcing allottees to pay the full amount.

“We have taken a housing loan. According to bank rules, if the house is not constructed within three years of the date of loan, the housing loan becomes a commercial loan and the rate of interest also increases. We will have to pay huge EMIs despite having no house,” he said.

BDA had invited applications in 2015 for 5,000 sites. The final list was announced in December 2016, after which the BDA gave the allottees two months to pay the full amount. Following repeated requests from allottees, the state government extended time till March. Meanwhile, over 800 people returned their sites to the BDA.

“The repayment of loan started in March. Now, time is ticking away and we have to wait till the BDA completes the layout to start construction,” Navali added.  Association members are also worried about BDA’s decision to give priority for re-allotment of 3,000 sites to those who failed to get Arkavathy Layout sites because of land denotification and redo process.

Santosh Patil, a Kempegowda Layout allottee, added that BDA was forcing many to register their sites to avoid being covered under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA).  According to the rules framed by the state government under RERA, ongoing real estate projects with 60% and above transactions will not be covered.

“How can we register sites if there is no infrastructure? How can the BDA ask people to register when they are unprepared?” Patil asked. When contacted, P N Nayak, BDA Engineer Member told DH that tenders are being called for developing Kempegowda Layout.

“From the date of approval of tenders, it will take 18 months to complete all infrastructure work, including water and sanitary lines. At present, a detailed project report (DPR) has been approved, sites have been marked, drains, storm water drains and road formation have been done. Registration process has started and so far, around 700 people have registered,” he said.  He, however, refused to comment on RERA and said that is for the government to decide.