BENGALURU
In a significant relief to thousands of property owners, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has proposed increasing the permissible deviation from sanctioned building plans from 5% to 15%. The move is expected to help many buildings secure occupancy certificates, which have remained pending due to minor violations.
The proposal is part of a draft notification seeking amendments to the 2003 building bye-laws. Public objections and suggestions have been invited until April 30, after which the revised rules will be finalised.
Under current norms, any deviation beyond 5% is considered unauthorised, leaving several property owners without occupancy certificates and limiting access to essential civic services like water and electricity. Officials said the revised policy aims to address practical challenges in a rapidly growing city.
However, deviations beyond 15% will still invite strict enforcement, including possible demolition. Authorities clarified that only buildings meeting key safety standards—such as structural stability, ventilation, and access—will qualify for regularisation.
GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao said the earlier limit had become impractical due to rising land costs and dense urban development. Constraints like small plot sizes often result in unavoidable variations in setbacks, floor area ratio (FAR), and building coverage.
The new framework also introduces a structured system for regularising deviations through payment of compounding fees, calculated based on the land’s guidance value. It further defines limits across parameters such as setbacks, FAR, height, and plot coverage to ensure uniform enforcement.
The proposed changes are expected to ease compliance while maintaining safety standards in Bengaluru’s expanding urban landscape.