BENGALURU: The site allottees of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) are up in arms against the Bangalore Development Authority’s (BDA) decision to collect Rs 31,000 towards road cutting fees at the layout. The residents are blaming BDA for taking such a decision without providing the basic infrastructure and completing the ongoing developmental work.
They said the BDA has yet to facilitate the site allottees ability to construct their dream homes, even after allotting the sites more than eight years ago. They complained that the authority is insisting that they pay Rs 31,000 towards providing drinking water, recycled water, and an underground drainage (UGD) system to those who applied for plan approval to construct their homes.
The Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout Open Forum wrote a letter to the Chief Minister on May 14, 2024, directing the BDA not to collect Rs 31,000 from the site owners.
“The BDA is responsible for the delay in developing the layout. Many people who bought residential sites at the layout are struggling to pay equal monthly installments (EMIs) and house rent due to the delay in constructing their homes. The BDA has fixed the cost of the site, including all amenities like drinking water, UGD, and other amenities. Now, they are demanding that the site allottees pay Rs 31,000 towards the same,’’ said Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout Open Forum president ME Channabasavaraj.
It may be recalled that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, while replying to a query from Rajajinagar MLA S Suresh Kumar on July 16, 2024, in the State Assembly, stated that the cost of the site at NKPL includes the cost of infrastructure (cost of the site and development cess).
The site allottees argue that one needs a minimum of one year to complete the construction of their building. Hence, they are complaining that the BDA is collecting this amount before supplying the above-mentioned facilities. “It is nothing to exploit the hapless site owners, who have already suffered a lot due to the delay in completing the developmental works at the layout.
There is no need to cut the road as BDA has already spent money to provide utility ducts constructing homes–M Ashok, general secretary NPKL Open Forum
It is learned that the BDA has already collected Rs 31,000 towards drinking water, recycled water, and the UGD from a few site owners who applied for the approval of their building plan. There is no need to cut the road as the BDA has already spent money to provide utility ducts,’’ said M Ashok, general secretary of the NKPL Open Forum.
Coming down heavily on the BDA’s move, Avinash (name changed) said that he would have saved lakhs of rupees if the BDA had completed the developmental works a few years ago. “Now, the cost of building construction material has gone through the roof. The BDA’s decision to collect Rs 31,000 will be an additional burden for those who apply for the approval of the building plan,’’ he said.
