GBA Mandates Registered Structural Engineers for Construction in Bengaluru

The Greater Bengaluru Authority has issued a public notice directing builders and property owners across its five corporations to undertake all construction activities exclusively through registered structural engineers. The directive follows findings that owners frequently bypass authorized personnel during actual construction work.

According to a senior Greater Bengaluru Authority official, verifications across the five corporations revealed a widespread practice where registered structural engineers, architects, or supervisors submit building plans online to secure approvals, after which building owners engage unregistered individuals for on-site design and supervision.

Officials noted that deploying unregistered personnel eliminates accountability when structural defects arise later in a project. In several instances, unregistered supervisors coax property owners into adding extra construction beyond approved blueprints. These deviations frequently lead to violations of approved building plans, ultimately resulting in the denial of occupancy certificates and completion certificates by civic authorities.

Despite these challenges, the authority reported that illegal construction cases have seen a decline following a Supreme Court directive that mandated disconnecting electricity and water supply to properties lacking valid occupancy and clearance certificates. Field officers have noted fewer deviations compared to previous years as the enforcement measures have discouraged unauthorized modifications.

The regulatory push follows a recent incident in south Bengaluru where an unoccupied wing of an apartment complex developed a tilt. While the South Corporation had initially summoned the structural engineer to show cause, the Greater Bengaluru Authority clarified that the tilt was caused by an error in a soil testing report rather than structural supervision.

Although the notice was not directly tied to the south Bengaluru incident, officials stated that the measure would help curb unauthorized work. To facilitate compliance, the Greater Bengaluru Authority has provided an avenue for qualified unregistered engineers who meet building bylaw standards to become empanelled with the authority and participate in formal training programmes.