BDA reclaims lands, plans mini layout in Kothanur

BDA reclaims lands, plans mini layout in Kothanur
To Form About 1,300 Sites In 100-Acres Of Land
The Times of India

Bangalore: Till recently, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) did not know that it owned vast expanses of barren land across the city — lands acquired, but not taken possession of. To ensure that the properties do not get into the wrong hands, the BDA is on a spree to take possession of those lands that have been left unattended.

Along with this initiative, comes more good news: the BDA has decided to convert the huge chunks of land into mini layouts, and the first layout would be developed at Kothanur once the site allotment process at Arkavathy Layout is completed.

“We are looking into the records since 1976, the time when BDA was formed. Much land acquisition had been carried out every year but possession of the properties was not taken. We are going year by year, digging out records to locate our lands,’’ BDA commissioner M.N. Vidyashankar told The Times of India.

Accordingly, nearly 36 acres of lands were identified at Kothanur, adjacent to the BDA’s existing 70-acre plot. Putting together 100 acres, the BDA will develop a mini layout and applications will be invited by March.

“Many real estate sharks and reputed developers were eying these 100 acres. We can form up to 1,300 sites on the plot,’’ Vidyashankar explained.

At HSR Layout, the authorities have stumbled upon 5.5 acres of acquired land which will be integrated with the existing layout.

The BDA is in the process of computerising all records since its inception in 1976 and once this is completed, the authorities will screen the records of the erstwhile City Improvement Trust Board (CITB), which later turned into the BDA.

Since inception, the BDA has allotted 76,000 residential sites and 800 civic amenity sites for use by various public utilities. Over the last five years, the BDA has recovered properties worth more than Rs 700 crore from encroachers. These include several plots encroached upon by the infamous S.R. Narasimhamurthy.

Over last six months, BDA has taken possession of land in Kothanur, BTM Layout, J.P. Nagar, HSR Layout and Nagarbhavi.
Nearly 36 acres identified at Kothanur, adjacent to BDA’s existing 70-acre plot. Mini layout will be formed on these 100 acres.
Applications will be invited by March for 1,300 sites