BBMP plans to hike extent of building bylaw deviation to 15%

Move likely to bring relief to many property owners if approved by State Govt.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) draft building bylaws include several new features, including one that is likely to bring relief to thousands of property owners if approved by the State Government. After exploring the legalities, the civic body has proposed to increase the extent of bylaw deviations that can be regularised after payment of requisite fines from the current 5% to 15%. Once this is in place, property owners will be able to get completion certificate (CC) and occupancy certificate (OC) easily.

Though the proposal, including an increase in the quantum of fines levied for various violations/ deviations, was first mooted in December 2020, BBMP was directed to look into the legal aspects by the Urban Development Department. This and a few other proposals included in the draft bylaws were discussed in a meeting chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, in December 2021.

According to sources privy to the development, civic officials have been directed to compare the compounding of offences of corporations in other states. Officials were also directed to ensure that the draft building bylaws are in line with the zonal regulations and the Model Building Bylaws of both the Union and State government. The draft bylaws are based on the Union government’s Model Building Bylaws 2016, the State government’s Karnataka Municipal Corporations Model Building Bylaws 2017 and the Karnataka Municipalities Model Building Bylaws 2017. The building plan approvals are already under SAKALA, and as per Ease of Doing Business, plans for sites measuring below 50 ft X 80 ft and 40 ft X 60 ft are sanctioned on “trust and verify” basis.