In a move likely to affect citizens aspiring to own a site in the City, the Bangalore
Development Authority has revised the rate of its sites.
According to the civic agency, the sites measuring 20x30 square feet will be priced at 25 per cent of their present guidance value while 30x40 feet sites will cost 40 per cent of their guidance value.
The prices for sites measuring 40x60 feet and 50x80 feet have been revised to 70 pc and 90 pc of their guidance values, respectively. Hitherto, the BDA used to charge close to Rs 2,100 per sq metre on a flat charge basis.
In other words, a BDA site aspirant will have to shell out Rs 72 lakh for a 50x80 sq feet site whereas a 20x30 sq feet site will cost close to Rs 2.96 lakh.
According to the BDA resolution dated March 13, 2012, the revision of rates was imperative due to the rising cost of land and ‘increasing’ infrastructure projects handled by the Authority.
The revised rates are applicable to site aspirants who have paid their initial deposits, states the resolution.
“The move comes at a time when the BDA has got hordes of applications from citizens seeking sites. If these rates are applied, where will the common man go?” questioned B M Shivkumar, a RTI activist. According to Shivkumar, the Board resolution reflects the profit-making stance of the officials at the cost of the common man.
The resolution specifies that the rates will be applicable to the allottees who will be given sites at the Arkavathy Layout and Kempegowda Layout, henceforth. Bharath Lal Meena, Commissioner, BDA told Deccan Herald that the Board resolution will not effect ordinary citizens who will be alloted the sites in regular layouts.
“We are only hiking the charges for the stray sites in the City,” he said, thus contradicting the resolution.