BBMP Amendment Bill proposes stricter building rules, street regulations

The Bill introduces major changes affecting construction approvals, penalties, and demolitions. 
| Photo Credit: File Photo

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (Amendment) Bill, 2025, tabled in the assembly on Tuesday, proposes significant changes to building regulations and street management. The amendments aim to tighten controls on unauthorised constructions, revise fee structures, and empower the BBMP to take over poorly maintained private streets.

The Bill introduces major changes under Sections 240A and 248, affecting construction approvals, penalties, and demolitions. One of the biggest shifts is the revision of penalty rates and fee structures. Notably, the completion certificate fee has been lowered from 1% of the property’s guidance value to just 0.10%, easing financial burdens.

However, penalties for unauthorised constructions have become stricter. Under Section 248, the BBMP now has enhanced powers to seal and demolish illegal buildings without prolonged legal battles. If a structure is built without approval or violates zoning regulations, the Zonal Commissioner can immediately order a stoppage, seal the premises, and initiate demolition. This measure aims to tackle rampant illegal constructions in the city and ensure compliance with safety and zoning laws.

Additionally, developers will now be required to pay new levies, including maintenance fees for public roads and penalties for storing construction materials in public spaces. This move is intended to prevent disruptions to urban infrastructure caused by large-scale developments, said a senior BBMP official.

Private streets

The Bill also proposes major changes to street regulations, particularly under Sections 225 and 226. A key amendment empowers the Zonal Commissioner to declare private streets as public streets if they are found to be in poor condition, posing risks to public safety and health. If a private street, including its drains, is neglected, the commissioner can issue a public notice and notify property owners about the potential reclassification. Property owners will have one month to raise objections, failing which the street may officially become public.

If a private street falls within multiple zones, a joint declaration from multiple Zonal Commissioners will be required. However, for a private road to be taken over, it must have connectivity to an existing public road or another public street, the official said quoting from the Bill.

The reclassification of private roads is expected to improve maintenance and accessibility, but it also raises concerns over property rights. Notably, former landowners who developed these roads will not receive compensation once they are converted into public streets

Meanwhile, Section 226 grants the BBMP the power to enforce repairs on private streets if they are not in a condition to be reclassified but still require maintenance. If property owners fail to undertake necessary repairs, the BBMP can carry out the work and recover the costs from them, potentially as arrears under property tax collection, the official informed.

Laxman Reddy, activist and member of the Residents Welfare Association in J.P. Nagar, welcomed the amendment saying this was the need of the hour for a city that has been witnessing rapid growth in urban infrastructure. ”In several areas, private roads have hindered development of public roads and drains,” he said. 

Bharath G., a resident of Nagarabhavi, said construction of unauthorised buildings in the city is rampant. “As the hands of the authorities are chained due to rules, demolition is being delayed. The Bill proposing full powers to the Zonal Commissioners to raze buildings may definitely help check such constructions,” he said.