Bengaluru: For lakhs of property owners across the city, securing an A-khata continues to be an uphill battle, with official data revealing that just 818 properties were granted the status in the past six months.The slow pace of approvals under Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has exposed deep structural issues, ranging from documentation gaps to affordability concerns. The conversion process, which allows B-khata properties to become legally compliant A-khata holdings, was opened to the public on Oct 15 last year. However, despite there being an estimated 8.2 lakh B-khata properties in Bengaluru, only 8,308 applications have been filed so far. Of these, a mere 10% have been approved, leaving a staggering 7,490 applications pending. “The biggest bottleneck is not administrative delay but the absence of proper records from applicants. Many property owners do not have approved layout plans, building sanctions, or clear road access documentation,” a senior GBA official said. Under the current rules, properties located on private roads must first undergo a process where such roads are declared public. This is followed by a mandatory 30-day objection period before further scrutiny and approval. “Each application involves legal verification, public notice, and technical scrutiny. It is not a simple conversion exercise,” the official added. The financial burden associated with conversion is another major deterrent. Applicants must pay a base application fee of Rs 500, along with 5% of the guidance value (for plots up to 2,000sqm), in addition to land conversion penalties and other charges. Given that a large proportion of B-khata properties are owned by lower- and middle-income households, many are unable or unwilling to bear these costs. “Affordability is a serious concern. We’re seeing reluctance from property owners because the cumulative charges can be substantial. There is a need to revisit the fee structure if we want higher compliance,” another GBA official, from West zone, said. Meanwhile, digitisation efforts have made significant progress, with over 25.1 lakh property records across five municipal corporations now digitised. Under the broader e-khata drive, 9.6 lakh applications have been received, out of which e-khata has been issued for 5.5 lakh A-khata properties and 2.7 lakh B-khata ones. However, 1.3 lakh applications have been rejected, further highlighting systemic challenges.
