BDA more than doubles site price

BDA more than doubles site price
Deccan Herald

If you are aspiring to buy a site in the future BDA layouts, be prepared to shell out more than double the existing price.

If you are aspiring to buy a site in the future BDA layouts, be prepared to shell out more than double the existing price. Arkavathy Layout will be the last project offering low-cost sites. The Bangalore Development Authority has now fixed a basic price of Rs 500 per sq ft – which at present is Rs 200 per sq ft. After nearly three decades, the BDA, which has so far created 62 planned layouts, has finally revamped its system of site formation, allotment and pricing. Now, it plans to do away with 20x30 ft sites and replace them with budget flats for the economically weaker sections. The new layouts will be carved out, based on the land division formula, which will put an end to problems of land acquisition.

‘Live closer to your workplace’ is the mantra to decongest Bangalore, said BDA Commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda, during an interaction with Deccan Herald on Friday. Gowda has mooted housing clusters within the central business districts (CBDs). “Budget flats within the City cut down on long-distance travel and ease traffic congestion. A vertical housing is ideal, if both physical and social infrastructure are developed. We need to curb unbridled growth. First, we need to eliminate small-dimension plots, which usually pave the way for sheds and shanties. We’ve earmarked 500 acres for economic housing (budget flats) for the economically weaker sections. A single-bedroom flat will be 500 sq ft and a two-bedroom flat will have 750 sq ft of space,” explained Gowda.

Site formation will soon witness a sea change. The minimum dimension of sites will be 30x40 with a basic price of Rs 500 per sq ft. The price for 60x40 sites is being reviewed. Larger sites (50x80) will be auctioned to generate funds to subsidise economic housing projects.


“We are generating about Rs 10 crore every week and targeting a weekly revenue of Rs 50 crore from auctions. The basic price is hiked, as it includes investment on underground drainage, water supply, roads and electricity,” said Gowda. The upcoming BDA layout promises 50,000 sites, which will be announced in November. But the layout will be formed based on land division rather than land acquisition. According to the new formula, 45 per cent of the property will be used for developing civic infrastructure and the remaining 55 per cent will be shared by the BDA and the property owner on a 60:40 basis.

The BDA will develop sites and allot the larger portion to allottees.