Bengaluru Development Body May Regularise Up to 15% Deviation from Building Plan

Bengaluru, April 3: The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has signalled a policy shift on urban regulation in a draft notification that seeks to amend the 2003 building bye-laws. Deviations beyond the 15 per cent threshold will continue to attract enforcement action, including possible demolition.

Current Problem

Under the existing rules, any construction exceeding the approved plan by more than 5 per cent is treated as unauthorised. This has left many buildings without occupancy certificates, affecting access to civic services such as water and electricity connections.

Conditions for Regularisation

The proposed revision comes with caveats:

• Buildings must meet key safety requirements

• Structural stability, ventilation, and access must be ensured

• Commissioners can approve cases if demolition is not feasible without affecting the structure

Compounding Fees

The revised framework introduces a system to regularise deviations through payment of compounding fees, calculated based on the guidance value of the land. It also sets out defined limits across parameters such as setbacks, Floor Area Ratio (FAR), building height, and plot coverage to standardise enforcement.

Official Statement

GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao said the earlier limit had become impractical in a city with high land costs and dense development. Small plot sizes and spatial constraints often lead to variations in setbacks, floor area ratio, and overall coverage.

Next Steps

Objections and suggestions have been invited until April 30, after which amendments will be finalised.