State government authorizes BBMP to approve building plans for single plots

The Congress-led government has granted the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) the authority to approve building plans for single plots (also known as Yeka Niveshana) that are not part of layouts approved or created by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

This move is expected to bring relief to thousands of individual plot owners and small-time builders in Bengaluru by eliminating the need to navigate between two government agencies for approvals.

This order is significant as it simplifies the approval process for plots converted for non-agricultural use, which had not previously gone through the BDA’s planning process. Many such plots in Bengaluru have been part of unauthorized layouts developed without formal approvals.

In a notification issued on April 7, the Urban Development Department (UDD) reduced the eligibility threshold for a “single plot” to 10,000 square meters (1 hectare) from 20,000 square meters. Any planned development or single plot larger than 1 hectare still requires approval from the BDA.

This decision is in line with the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act of 1961, Section 17, which had tightened building license regulations in September 2023. The new rules aim to streamline the process and reduce bureaucratic delays in Bengaluru’s fast-growing urban landscape. This move is expected to benefit numerous property owners in Bengaluru, especially those with smaller plots, by enabling faster approval processes. It also aims to address the growing demand for residential and commercial spaces in the city, fostering smoother urban development while maintaining regulatory oversight.