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The Karnataka government has proposed amendments to the 2003 building bye-laws in Bengaluru, allowing deviations of up to 15% from approved plans, compared to the earlier 5% limit. The draft framework, open for public feedback until the end of April, introduces a compounding fee mechanism to regularise such deviations and enable issuance of occupancy certificates. The move is intended to address a large number of buildings unable to secure approvals due to minor violations. However, urban planners and civic experts have raised concerns regarding enforcement, safety, and legal compliance, warning that the proposal may legitimise unauthorised construction practices while altering long-standing planning norms.
The Karnataka government has proposed a revision to Bengaluru's building regulations by increasing the permissible deviation from sanctioned plans from 5% to 15%, through amendments to the Building Bye-laws, 2003, with the draft notification released earlier this month and open for public feedback until the end of April. The proposal applies across key parameters such as setbacks, floor area ratio (FAR), building height and plot coverage, and seeks to provide a mechanism for regularising deviations through a penalty-based system. Advertisement
The draft amendment aims to address a long-standing issue in the city, where a significant number of buildings remain without occupancy certificates due to minor deviations from approved plans. Under existing rules, any deviation exceeding 5% renders a building unauthorised, restricting access to essential civic services such as water and electricity connections. The revised framework proposes to allow regularisation of deviations within the 15% threshold, subject to compliance with structural safety, ventilation, and access norms.
Officials have indicated that the move is intended to bring a large number of non-compliant properties within the legal framework, acknowledging the practical challenges of strict enforcement in a dense urban environment. They have conveyed that demolition of all such structures is not feasible and that a calibrated relaxation could help resolve pending cases while enabling property owners to obtain occupancy certificates. The administration has also suggested that the system may generate additional revenue through compounding fees, although this is not being positioned as the primary objective.
However, the proposal has drawn criticism from urban planners and civic groups, who argue that increasing the permissible deviation limit effectively alters the threshold of illegality rather than addressing enforcement gaps. Experts have raised concerns that the relaxation could dilute adherence to approved building plans and potentially conflict with judicial directives mandating stricter compliance in urban planning. They have also flagged risks related to safety, particularly in areas such as setbacks and FAR, which are critical to structural integrity and emergency access.
Another concern highlighted by stakeholders is the absence of comprehensive data on the extent of building violations across Bengaluru. Authorities have not conducted a city-wide survey to quantify deviations, which may complicate implementation and monitoring under the revised framework. In parallel, officials have indicated plans to digitise enforcement processes, including issuance of notices, to improve consistency and record-keeping.
The proposed amendment reflects an attempt to reconcile regulatory compliance with on-ground realities in a rapidly urbanising city characterised by high land costs and constrained plot sizes. While it offers a pathway for regularising minor deviations, its final impact will depend on how effectively safeguards, enforcement mechanisms, and planning principles are balanced when the policy is formalised.
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