Karnataka Government Announces Major Building Norm Relaxation, Launches Bengaluru Infrastructure Push

Bengaluru, May 2026 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday unveiled a series of major urban development initiatives for Bengaluru, including a significant relaxation in building violation norms, large-scale infrastructure projects, housing regularisation measures and traffic management plans aimed at addressing the city’s rapid urban expansion.

Addressing a press conference at the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) headquarters, Shivakumar announced that the state government would increase the permissible limit for deviations in building regulations from 5 per cent to 15 per cent. The relaxation will apply to violations related to building height, Floor Area Ratio (FAR), and setback requirements.

He stated that occupancy certificates would now be issued to buildings with deviations up to 15 per cent after the collection of prescribed penalties. The decision comes in the wake of Supreme Court directives that prohibit electricity and water connections to buildings lacking occupancy certificates.

“The Cabinet will soon take a formal decision regarding this issue. We are not encouraging illegal constructions, but Bengaluru has witnessed rapid urbanisation and land scarcity. Many people have constructed buildings without maintaining proper setbacks due to practical constraints,” Shivakumar said.

He pointed out that the existing law already provides setback relaxations of up to 50 per cent for smaller residential sites such as 20×30, 30×40 and 40×60 dimensions. The new proposal, he said, was intended to provide relief within the legal framework while ensuring planned urban growth.

The Deputy Chief Minister also criticised the previous BJP government’s regularisation framework introduced under Section 38D in 2020, stating that it failed to benefit property owners because the penalties and charges imposed were excessively high.

To address the issue comprehensively, the Karnataka government will introduce a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme beginning June 15. Under this initiative, property owners will be allowed to apply for regularisation of violations during a three-month application window.

Shivakumar explained that the government plans to allocate approximately 100 days for application submissions, another 100 days for scrutiny and verification, followed by additional time for fee payments and processing. The entire regularisation process is expected to be completed by June 2027.

As an incentive, applicants who submit their applications within the first three months will receive a 50 per cent concession on regularisation charges. For instance, if a property owner is required to pay 10 per cent of the guidance value as penalty, the amount would effectively be reduced to 5 per cent during the initial phase.

“If citizens fail to utilise this opportunity, the government will have no choice but to initiate legal action. The Bengaluru Development Authority has already taken possession of properties worth nearly Rs 2,000 crore,” Shivakumar warned.

In another major announcement, the Deputy Chief Minister said the government would begin allotting 18,000 sites to landowners who had surrendered land for the Shivaram Karanth Layout project. According to him, more than 3,000 landowners had contributed land for the project, but allotments had remained pending due to court cases and ownership-related complications.

“Following court approval, we are now proceeding with site allotments. The process will commence from May 15 through a transparent software system developed by the Centre for e-Governance,” he said.

Landowners who surrendered one acre or more will also be given the option of receiving larger consolidated plots suitable for high-rise residential developments.

As part of the Bengaluru Development Authority’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the Karnataka government will organise a massive “Green Bengaluru” plantation drive on June 27, coinciding with Kempegowda Jayanti. Shivakumar announced that nearly 15 lakh saplings would be planted across Bengaluru in a single day with participation from students, civic organisations, government staff and the public.

The Deputy Chief Minister also provided updates on the Bengaluru Business Corridor project, stating that nearly 80 per cent of affected landowners had already consented to the first phase of the project. Notifications for the second phase have also been issued.

The proposed 33-km business corridor connecting Hosur Road and Mysuru Road in south Bengaluru is expected to significantly improve traffic flow and urban connectivity. Shivakumar said the compensation package offered to landowners was among the most attractive in the country, including Transferable Development Rights (TDR), commercial land along roadsides and FAR incentives.

“We cannot denotify this project under any circumstances because it is critical for Bengaluru’s future growth,” he asserted.

The government also announced the sale of 1,900 Bengaluru Development Authority apartments in Whitefield. One-bedroom apartments measuring 760 square feet are priced at approximately Rs 66.86 lakh, while three-bedroom units measuring 1,733 square feet are priced at around Rs 1.44 crore. Applications for the apartments will open from May 15.

On the infrastructure front, Shivakumar said the government was accelerating projects aimed at reducing Bengaluru’s worsening traffic congestion. A 2.2-km six-lane tunnel road near Hebbal Junction, close to the University of Agricultural Sciences campus, has been awarded to Rithwik Tunnel Company and is expected to be completed within 18 months.

Additionally, a 1.7-km four-lane elevated corridor near Mekhri Circle will also be constructed. Foundation stone ceremonies for both projects are likely to take place later this month.

The Deputy Chief Minister further announced that a 10.77-km road developed at a cost of Rs 631 crore in Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout would be inaugurated within the next 15 days.

Dec 2025

Team Maverick.