Final e-khata errors trap citizens in BBMP red tape

Bengaluru: Obtaining an e-khata remains difficult for many property owners in Bengaluru, but correcting errors in the final document has become an even bigger problem.

Many allege that Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) staff deliberately introduce mistakes, forcing citizens through unnecessary hurdles. Others complain of long delays despite multiple visits to revenue offices.

So far, the BBMP has issued 5.8 lakh final e-khatas, covering about 25 per cent of Bengaluru’s properties. While applicants can suggest corrections to draft e-khatas online, there is no option to fix mistakes in the final version. This pushes citizens back to the BBMP offices, defeating the civic body’s plan for a contactless, faceless system.

A Banaswadi resident said that it took her four months and considerable money to get her final e-khata, only for the BBMP staff to enter a site number instead of her flat number. “I cannot sell my flat now. There is no online option, and no one at the BBMP office is helping,” she said.

Such errors are common. Some arise when applicants pick the wrong property record or ward number during submission — mistakes that also cannot be corrected online.

Several citizens aired complaints on social media. "Can we get corrections in final e-khatas? I followed helpline advice, but got an incorrect ward number,” one property owner posted.

Others alleged bribes. “I paid Rs 5,000 for my e-khata. The clerk made a wrong entry and demanded Rs 10,000 to fix it,” said another.

One resident tagged BBMP officials, sharing her struggle at the HBR BDA Complex office to correct two errors, with no officer available. "I received my e-khata with a spelling mistake. I was sent to the Assistant Revenue Office for Ward 57 in Cox Town. It has been over a month with no correction. It feels like deliberate harassment,” another property owner wrote.

Working on a system: BBMP 

A senior BBMP officer admitted there is no online option to correct final e-khatas yet, citing risk of misuse.

"The head office is working on a system. For now, case workers physically accept correction requests, which revenue officers must approve,” he said.