<p>Bengaluru: The <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/bda">Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) </a>has decided to forego hiring a private agency to market its unsold inventory, thanks to the overwhelming success of its recent "flat melas".</p>.<p>The decision comes just months after the board approved a proposal to enlist an independent marketing team to sell off the 3,500+ unsold flats.</p>.<p>Officials explained that private agencies were uninterested in marketing the flats due to the BDA's refusal to offer discounts. The proposed arrangement allowed marketing firms to collect 3% of the total cost directly from buyers, but this proved unattractive.</p>.BDA recovers 19 acres for arterial road project.<p>"Since the terms were not very attractive, we did not get any agency for the job. Hence, we decided to go big by providing free food and snacks in all the melas. The response has been quite good," a senior BDA official stated.</p>.<p>It appears that marketing agencies wanted the BDA to offer a commission by reducing flat prices, a proposal rejected by the authority to avoid revenue loss and potential discrepancies.</p>.<p>The idea of engaging a private agency was initially discussed at a December 2023 meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, where joint ventures with private developers were also considered. The BDA subsequently held a meeting to finalise a marketing agency.</p>.<p>BDA Commissioner N Jayaram told DH that the authority has temporarily shelved the plan due to the positive response to its unsold flats at the melas.</p>.<p>A majority of the unsold flats are located in Kaniminike near Kumbalgodu, where approximately 800 units remain vacant.</p>.<p>In 2023, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) reported that roughly 80% of the flats were unsold because the BDA failed to conduct a market survey and build necessary access roads to enhance the project's appeal.</p>.<p>Although there are about 1,000 flats at Kommaghatta, they remain unoccupied as the BDA has yet to make them available for public purchase. However, the BDA anticipates a strong demand for this housing project due to its proximity to the Challaghatta metro station. Many units also remain unsold in housing projects in Konadasapura, Hunnigere, and Thippasandra.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/bda">Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) </a>has decided to forego hiring a private agency to market its unsold inventory, thanks to the overwhelming success of its recent "flat melas".</p>.<p>The decision comes just months after the board approved a proposal to enlist an independent marketing team to sell off the 3,500+ unsold flats.</p>.<p>Officials explained that private agencies were uninterested in marketing the flats due to the BDA's refusal to offer discounts. The proposed arrangement allowed marketing firms to collect 3% of the total cost directly from buyers, but this proved unattractive.</p>.BDA recovers 19 acres for arterial road project.<p>"Since the terms were not very attractive, we did not get any agency for the job. Hence, we decided to go big by providing free food and snacks in all the melas. The response has been quite good," a senior BDA official stated.</p>.<p>It appears that marketing agencies wanted the BDA to offer a commission by reducing flat prices, a proposal rejected by the authority to avoid revenue loss and potential discrepancies.</p>.<p>The idea of engaging a private agency was initially discussed at a December 2023 meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, where joint ventures with private developers were also considered. The BDA subsequently held a meeting to finalise a marketing agency.</p>.<p>BDA Commissioner N Jayaram told DH that the authority has temporarily shelved the plan due to the positive response to its unsold flats at the melas.</p>.<p>A majority of the unsold flats are located in Kaniminike near Kumbalgodu, where approximately 800 units remain vacant.</p>.<p>In 2023, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) reported that roughly 80% of the flats were unsold because the BDA failed to conduct a market survey and build necessary access roads to enhance the project's appeal.</p>.<p>Although there are about 1,000 flats at Kommaghatta, they remain unoccupied as the BDA has yet to make them available for public purchase. However, the BDA anticipates a strong demand for this housing project due to its proximity to the Challaghatta metro station. Many units also remain unsold in housing projects in Konadasapura, Hunnigere, and Thippasandra.</p>