Property owners of B-khata seeking to convert their holdings into A-khata units under a government initiative commencing on November 1 must first acquire an e-khata prior to pursuing the conversion. As part of this initiative, B-khata plots measuring up to 21,527 square feet that are adjacent to public roads qualify for conversion to A-khata.
Nevertheless, the introduction of this new digital requirement has caused frustration among many citizens, who claim it adds an additional layer of bureaucracy to an already protracted process. Individuals seeking khata conversion are also required to pay a fee of 5% based on the property’s guidance value, in addition to extra charges for land mutation and map approval.
This e-khata requirement has taken everyone by surprise. Many of us have already begun preparing the necessary documents for conversion to A-khata, remarked a property owner from Rajarajeshwarinagar in Bengaluru. According to data from the GBA revenue department, Bengaluru has 750,000 B-khata properties, yet only 260,000 have been issued e-khata thus far.
The West Corporation leads with 72,000 conversions, followed by North with 69,000 and East with 62,816. Rajarajeshwarinagar ranks first overall with 123,000 B-khata properties converted to e-khata, followed by Bengaluru South and Anekal with 103,000, Chickpet with 84,000, and Shivakumar Nagar with 78,000. In defense of the government initiative, Munish Moudgil, the special commissioner (revenue) of GBA, stated: “People are unnecessarily causing issues.
Without an e-khata, it is impossible to verify the authenticity of ownership documents. If manual khatas are uploaded, it paves the way for corruption and misuse.” Moudgil further clarified that only owners of sites and site-with-building are eligible in this phase, which excludes flat owners. However, residents contend that the issue extends beyond mere documentation.
B-khata properties are deemed irregular, which hinders us from obtaining building plan approvals or securing home loans, expressed Kumar Rao, a resident of Hebbal. “We have been residing in a legal grey area for years,” he added.
A senior revenue official from the GBA stated that the overarching goal of the conversion initiative is to enhance tax compliance. “Many B-khata properties lack official documentation, resulting in a loss of property tax revenue. Integrating these properties into the A-khata system will expand the city’s tax base and facilitate infrastructure development,” the official elaborated.
