After nearly 18 years of waiting, farmers and landowners who gave up their land for the Dr K Shivaram Karanth Layout in north Bengaluru have finally begun receiving site allotments from the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). The technology-based allotment process was launched to address a long-pending land compensation issue that had been delayed by legal and administrative proceedings.
The project had faced years of delays, with land acquisition matters reaching the Karnataka High Court and subsequently the Supreme Court. A court stay had also affected the invitation of applications and the disbursement of compensation. The latest allotment process is intended to resolve the long-standing issue for thousands of affected landowners.
According to the BDA, the allotment process will match eligible landowners with sites based on ownership records, entitlement and survey details. Wherever possible, preference will be given to allotting sites within the original survey number from which land was acquired. If this is not possible, suitable sites in nearby locations will be considered.
The BDA has spent nearly ₹16,420 crore on developing the Dr K Shivaram Karanth Layout. Land for the project was acquired from around 3,200 farmers and landowners. Under the agreement, landowners were entitled to receive 40% of the developed land for every acre acquired by the authority.
A total of 24,714 sites have been developed under the layout. Of these, 18,399 sites have been earmarked for farmers and landowners, while 3,500 sites are reserved for revenue site holders and 2,815 sites are intended for the general public. The layout includes 39.8% residential area, 3.8% commercial space, 10% civic amenities, 16.6% parks and open spaces, and 29.7% roads.
BDA chairman NA Haris said that technology is expected to make the allotment process more transparent and efficient. He also advised landowners to deal directly with the authority and avoid brokers or middlemen. Beneficiaries who have waited for years to receive compensation are being encouraged not to make any payments to intermediaries during the allotment process.
However, some concerns were raised by farmers during the event. Landowners objected to an administrative fee of ₹54,000 for a 30×40 site and also raised issues regarding their ability to choose sites according to their preferences. Following discussions, farmers claimed that the proposed administrative charge could be reduced to ₹12,000 for 30×40 sites.
The launch of site allotment marks an important development in the long-delayed Karanth Layout project. With thousands of developed sites now earmarked for farmers and landowners, the process is expected to provide compensation to people who surrendered land nearly two decades ago. The project also highlights the challenges associated with land acquisition, legal proceedings and compensation in large urban development projects.
