In a significant relief for numerous property owners who have struggled to secure occupancy certificates due to deviations, the Greater Bengaluru Authority has proposed increasing the allowable deviation from sanctioned building plans from the current 5% to 15%.
The GBA has indicated a shift in policy regarding urban regulation through a draft notification aimed at amending the 2003 building bye-laws. Deviations that exceed the 15% limit will still be subject to enforcement actions, which may include potential demolition.
The authority is accepting objections and suggestions until April 30, after which the amendments will be finalized. According to the current regulations, any construction that surpasses the approved plan by more than 5% is classified as unauthorized. This situation has resulted in many buildings lacking occupancy certificates, thereby hindering access to essential civic services such as water and electricity connections.
Officials have noted that the proposed changes come with specific conditions: buildings must adhere to critical safety standards, structural integrity, ventilation, and accessibility. The draft also permits commissioners to approve such cases when demolition is not a viable option without compromising the structure.
GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao stated that the previous limit had become unfeasible in a city characterized by high land prices and dense development. The small size of plots and spatial limitations frequently result in variations in setbacks, floor area ratios, and overall coverage.
The updated framework introduces a mechanism to regularize deviations through the payment of compounding fees, which will be calculated based on the land’s guidance value. It also establishes clear limits across various parameters, including setbacks, FAR, building height, and plot coverage, to standardize enforcement.
