Bill to declare private roads as ‘public streets’ in Bengaluru tabled in Karnataka Assembly

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Tuesday introduced a Bill in the Assembly empowering the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to declare any street as a “public street”.

Land owners who have benefitted from private roads, which get declared as ‘public streets’, will not be eligible to receive any compensation, including development rights certificates, according to the BBMP (Amendment) Bill.

“If a private street, including the drains, are in such a poor condition that endangers public safety and health, the zonal commissioner may, with respect to a private street or the owners of the buildings and lands fronting or abutting on such a street, by a public notice and notice to such owners, inform his intention to declare the said private street or part thereof, a public street,” the Bill states.

In case a private street falls under more than one zone, then concerned zonal commissioners will jointly issue the notice, the Bill specifies.

The Bill also states that a private street should have connectivity from a public road for it to be declared as a public street.

The Bill defines a ‘public street’ as any street, road, square, court, alley, passage or riding path over which the public have a right of way maintained by the Corporation of Government of any public authorities, whether a thoroughfare or not.

Further, the Bill enables the BBMP to decide on matters related to fixing the rate of fee, levy or penalty in accordance with Article 243X of the Constitution. The Bill also reduces the ceiling limit on the rate of fee chargeable for residential building permissions.

As per the Bill, zonal commissioners will be empowered to prevent owners or persons from using unauthorised buildings.