Property owners in Bengaluru will have to pay additional charges for several online civic and khata-related services following a new fee structure introduced by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). The revised charges include software fees for property tax-related transactions, higher fees for khata conversion and registration, and additional charges for e-khata services.
The move has drawn objections from residents, civic organisations and Opposition parties, who have raised concerns over the rising cost of accessing routine municipal services. The GBA, however, has stated that the additional revenue will be used to support the technology infrastructure required to operate and maintain its digital civic platforms.
Under the new order, property owners will be required to pay a software-related fee of Rs 200 for residential properties when using specified online civic services. For non-residential and mixed-use properties, the fee has been fixed at Rs 1,000. These charges will apply to property tax-related online transactions.
The revised structure also covers several khata-related services. Property owners seeking to convert a B-khata into an A-khata will have to pay Rs 2,000 for a residential property and Rs 10,000 for a non-residential property. Similar charges will apply for new khata registration.
For layout khata services, the fee has been fixed at Rs 10,000 per plot. The new structure also includes separate charges for e-khata-related services. A final e-khata application will attract an additional Rs 400, while reissuing or reprinting an e-khata document will cost Rs 50.
Property owners undertaking conversion involving individual apartments will also have to pay Rs 2,000 per flat. In addition, the commissioner has been authorised to prescribe charges for other services that may be introduced or provided through the civic authority’s digital platforms.
GBA Cites Digital Infrastructure Costs
According to the GBA, the additional fees are intended to meet the costs associated with developing, operating and maintaining its online civic service infrastructure. The authority has cited expenses related to software development and maintenance, cloud infrastructure, hosting and cybersecurity.
The fee structure is also expected to support data management, geographic information system (GIS) infrastructure, digital platforms, hardware and network infrastructure. As more property-related services move online, the authority has indicated that maintaining these systems requires ongoing expenditure.
The move comes as Bengaluru continues to expand its use of digital platforms for property tax, khata and other municipal services. For property owners, these systems have increasingly become an important channel for completing documentation and civic transactions without visiting government offices.
Residents Raise Concerns Over Additional Charges
The new fees have faced opposition from sections of Bengaluru’s property-owning community. Residents and civic organisations have questioned the decision to impose separate software-related charges on services for which property owners already pay property tax and other statutory fees.
Concerns have particularly focused on the cumulative cost of property-related documentation. Homeowners, apartment owners and other property holders may have to pay multiple charges when completing khata registration, conversion or e-khata-related processes.
Residents have argued that the introduction of additional fees could make routine municipal services more expensive, particularly for homeowners who need to complete several property-related transactions.
A senior citizen cited in the report said residents were concerned that the new charges could increase the cost of accessing essential municipal services.
Opposition Seeks Withdrawal of Order
Opposition parties have also criticised the new fee structure and called for its withdrawal. Their argument is that expenses associated with maintaining government software, digital platforms and related infrastructure should be met through the administration’s budget rather than being separately recovered from citizens using municipal services.
The dispute therefore centres on how the cost of digital civic infrastructure should be funded. While the GBA has linked the charges to the expenditure required to maintain its technology systems, opponents have questioned whether these costs should be passed on to property owners.
Impact on Bengaluru Property Transactions
The revised charges could have an impact on homeowners, apartment owners, property investors and developers who regularly use khata and property tax services. The financial impact will depend on the type of property and the specific service being accessed.
For residential property owners, the software fee is lower than the corresponding charge for non-residential and mixed-use properties. However, additional charges for khata conversion, registration, final e-khata applications and apartment-level conversion can add to the overall cost of completing a property-related transaction.
For developers and owners of non-residential properties, the higher service charges could result in a larger increase in administrative expenses, particularly where multiple plots or properties are involved.
