Banglore Development Authority -

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) of Bangalore, India, is a governmental organization

(referred to within india as a parastatal entity) and the principal planning authority for Bangalore. Its
function, under the Kanataka Town and Country Planning Act of 1961, is as a regulatory body required
to prepare in the prescribed manner a Comprehensive Development Plant for the Bangalore
Metropolitan Region also oversees planning and development of infrastructure provision of
development-related sites and services, the housing needs of underprivileged citizens in Bangalore and
is currently the city's largest land developer No other authority or person may undertake development
within the Bangalore Metropolitan Region without the permission of the BDA

Formed 6 January 1976

Superseding agency City Improvement Trust Board

Jurisdiction Government of Karnataka

Headquarters Bangalore

Annual budget Rs. 5067.65 crore (2012)

Minister responsible Basavaraj Bommai

Planning Authority executive M.B. Rajesh Gowda, Commissioner

Background -
BDA was created on 6 January 1976 under the Bangalore Development Authority Act 1976[5]
superseding the earlier civic authority known as the City Improvement Trust Board (CITB), but remaining
nearly identical in function.[6] The BDA is a largely unelected local authority (2 out of 23 members are
elected BBMP corporators) with most of its members accountable to, and directly appointed by the
state government. This creates issues with local representation, particularly since the passage of the
Constitution (74th) Amendment Act, 1992 mandating the devolution of planning powers to local,
elected authorities.

Despite being the principle planning authority, up to 90% of new residential layouts on the Bangalore
periphery do not have formal approval from the BDA.[7] Over time, these layouts tend to be regularised
by successive state governments, however they exhibit all of the issues associated with ad hoc
residential development including irregular road layouts, boundary encroachments and lack of provision
for essential services and infrastructure.
Corruption has always been an issue within the BDA, with one particularly notorious scandal being the
illegal sale of up to 200 sites in 1995 by corrupt BDA officials.[8] In the 1990s the BDA came under
sustained criticism including the Public Affairs Center's 1993 report cards on BDA performance;[9] the
CUMB Report of 1997 which examined the role and function of the BDA and concluded that the
organization had outlived its mandate, was failing as a development authority and should be disbanded;
[10] and a 1999 report[11] by the World Bank which labelled it one of the most corrupt and inefficient
institutions in the city.[12] The same report also reported on the findings of a citizen survey which found
65% of Bengalureans dissatisfied with their experience dealing with the BDA, and just 1% satisfied—the
lowest of any civic agency in the city. It was also receiving the highest share of bribes (33%) in exchange
for expediting service outcomes.

The BDA is credited with responding to these findings with some reforms in operational management
and asset monitoring and accounting practices leading to a substantial increase in residential layout
development and allocation.

In 2008 the Kasturirangan Report reaffirmed that as both developer and land regulator, the BDA has
neglected its regulatory role, but gained some additional credibility through the successful delivery of
major infrastructure projects[10] including the Outer Ring Road, and various flyovers and underpasses
throughout the city. The report recommended land regulation responsibilities be handed over to other
municipal bodies such as the BBMP with the BDA focusing on its function as a development body.

Achievements
The superstructure of the Hebbal Flyover has won an award in the 9th Outstanding Bridge National
Awards competition by the Indian Institute of Bridge, Engineers[14]

Restoration of Lake Agaram

Restoration of Benniganahalli Lake

Restoration of Lalbagh lake

Outer Ring Road

Criticism-
The encroachment and development upon water bodies and tanks essential for the city's drainage
system.

Failure to provide basic amenities (power, water, sewerage, drainage) to residential layouts whilst
embarking on still further projects

Failure to provide for the rehabilitation of villagers displaced by new layout projects.
Failure to deliver on planned projects and promised infrastructure.

Despite the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Indian Constitution devolving power to Panchayats and
local urban bodies, the BDA is not similarly responsive through an electoral process to local
constituencies.

The influence of money and vested interests, the so-called "land mafia", in the violation of regulations
and land use controls and the development of prime real estate locations.

Service outcomes decreasing over time despite significant growth in revenues (accounting for
population and inflation).

HC calls BDA the mother of corruption.

Looks like it is not only BDA allotted sites that get into legal trouble, even auction sites which fetch the
BDA crores of rupees that get entangled, in this case for 14 years.

A series of denotifications hit the BDA arkavathy layout according to this source. This happened after
BDA allotted the land to people who paid full amount for the site purchase from their hard earned
savings and received lease cum sale agreements from BDA. So their money was with BDA but site GONE.

People who dare to build a house in a BDA developed layout, might have to stay with no power, water
or drainage, not for years but decades as this one talks about facilities in Arkavathy layout and the
facilities it offers.

Do you think BDA apartments are a safer bet, think again, a land owner allegedly cordoned off 300 BDA
flat owners from an approach road

BDA apartments and its amazing quality -

Yes, according to BDA, they refund people who withdraw their flat application but how easy is it to really
get your money back is anyone's guess

Hebbal flyover, designed and built by BDA is now bursting at the seams with unmanageable traffic
according to this report.Does this showcase BDA's long term planning capabilities?
Departments of the Bangalore Development Authority

The Land Acquisition Department

It is the function of the land acquisition department to acquire land for proper ese of pects This
department arso works in close association with the Engineering Department for the formation of new
layouts in the city

The Town Planning Department

The department repairs and reuses the plans made for the developiniest af Bangalore The Town Pannag
Department is engaged in penodic preparation of Layouts to housing sch Bangron

The Engineervig Department

This department estes the carous develgmental schemes undertakes the Autoilly wh espect to layouts
and inaws The Expreg Departs cars of the Nater supply and damage system

The Allotment & Administration Department

This department takes care of all matters relating to site allotment for residential and commercial
purposes. The Allotment & Administration Department also handles matters pertaining to collection
of rent from shops and assessment of the amount of tax that is to be collected from a particular
property.

The Finance Department

This department advises the Bangalore Development Authority on financial matters. It also carries
the responsibility of maintaining the accounts of the authority.

The Law Department

The responsibility of this department is to guide the Authority on legal issues. It also handles all the
lawsuits filed by and against the Bangalore Development Authority in different courts, etc.

The Public Relations Department

This department handles all the media Related issues like publication of press release and
advertisements. This department also handles the various queries from public applications and then
transfers it to the respective department.
 Functions Of BDA-

 To prepare scheme plans.

 To approve Development Plans for Layouts and Group Housing
 To prepare development plan for the city
 To approve building plans

Jurisdiction-

BDA has included 544 villages under BDA jurisdiction. The following villages are under the Planning
Authority – BDA. All properties and sites which come under the following villages must have BDA
approval. The layout plan approval is always given only for the whole layout. If any layout under BDA
jurisdiction doesn’t have BDA layout plan approval, they are considered as illegal or unauthorized layout.
If any layout doesn’t have BDA layout plan approval, they are called as unauthorized or illegal layout.