Only 47,088 of 8.49 Lakh Bengaluru B-Khata Owners Apply for A-Khata Conversion

The Karnataka government’s ‘Land Guarantee’ initiative has received a lukewarm response in Bengaluru, with only 47,088 of the estimated 8.49 lakh B-Khata property owners applying for conversion to A-Khata as of August 14, despite a temporary reduction in conversion fees.

According to civic records, officials approved 24,965 applications and generated Rs 141.93 crore in revenue from the exercise. More than 3,000 applications were rejected due to ownership disputes, non-conformity with the master plan, and other technical issues, while 19,075 applications remained pending.

The low turnout has disrupted revenue projections for the five municipal corporations functioning under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). In their initial budgets, the five civic bodies had collectively targeted more than Rs 1,693 crore from the property regularisation drive.

The regularisation initiative originally allowed owners to obtain an A-Khata by paying 5% of the property’s guidance value, alongside a development charge of Rs 30 per square metre and other applicable fees. Following a sluggish start, the government introduced the ‘Nanna Khata, Nanna Hakku’ campaign on May 15, slashing the conversion fee from 5% to 2% of the guidance value for a 100-day window ending August 23.

During the campaign, special camps were organised every Saturday across 50 locations within the five municipal corporations under the GBA, though the exercise was temporarily suspended due to the SIR exercise. With the 100-day concession window now concluded, new applicants must once again pay the full 5% guidance value fee to convert their properties from B-Khata to A-Khata.

Officials noted that 777 property owners who paid the full 5% fee prior to the reduction will not receive refunds for the additional 3% paid. Unauthorised construction and unplanned growth have long characterised B-Khata properties across Bengaluru, with some unapproved structures suffering collapses. Through the regularisation initiative, the state aims to bring eligible properties in revenue layouts under A-Khata to improve accountability and record maintenance.