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The Karnataka government has approved the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Amendment Bill 2025 to recognize the private layout roads as public roads and address illegal constructions. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar highlighted issues where landowners claim ownership of roads despite selling plots, preventing government acquisition. The amendment ensures public access, prevents disputes, and grants BBMP authority to seal illegal buildings. It also shifts decision-making on levies from the Chief Commissioner to council meetings. The law will later extend to towns and panchayats.
The Karnataka government has taken a significant step toward resolving land disputes in Bengaluru by approving the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Amendment Bill 2025. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar introduced the bill in the Legislative Council, emphasizing the need to recognize private layout roads as public roads and address issues related to illegal constructions. Advertisement
Shivakumar highlighted that while private layout roads have been developed and maintained, land records still reflect the original owners' names. This discrepancy has led to legal complications, with some landowners objecting to government claims and attempting to sell these roads. He stressed that certain individuals are seeking Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) as compensation for roads they never officially handed over to the government. The amendment seeks to rectify these issues by updating land records and ensuring roads within private layouts are officially recognized as public property.
Currently applicable within Bengaluru, the amendment will later be extended to towns and panchayats. Another major provision of the bill is the restructuring of decision-making authority regarding levies. Previously, the Chief Commissioner held sole power over levy impositions, often making unilateral decisions. The new amendment mandates that such matters be discussed and approved in council meetings, ensuring a more transparent and democratic process. Additionally, the BBMP will now have the authority to seal illegal constructions.
To illustrate the issue of land disputes, Shivakumar provided an example where individuals register multiple plots, sometimes amounting to 20,000 square feet, with the Sub-Registrar's Office. However, in many instances, small portions of land remain unregistered in their names. Later, these individuals claim ownership of these unrecorded sections, leading to conflicts. Some even construct walls across roads, disrupting public access. He noted that in many cases, individuals argue that past transactions were handled by their fathers and they were unaware of the details, further complicating legal proceedings.
He asserted that roads used by the public for decades cannot suddenly be claimed as private property, as roads inherently belong to the government. The amendment is designed to ensure that such land remains accessible to the public.
On the issue of gated communities, he acknowledged past cases where private developers attempted to restrict public access. Legal battles have since reinforced the principle of open accessibility. Shivakumar emphasized that all layouts must have proper entry and exit points, and the government will review existing cases to take necessary action.
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