Karanth Layout Site Allotment Begins After Nearly 18 Years

The long-delayed Dr K Shivaram Karanth Layout project in north Bengaluru has finally reached a crucial stage, with the Bangalore Development Authority beginning site allotments to farmers and landowners who surrendered their land for the development.

The allotment is being carried out through a technology-based process designed to match eligible beneficiaries with sites using ownership records, entitlement details and survey information. Wherever possible, the Bangalore Development Authority plans to allot sites within the same original survey number from which the land was acquired. If that is not possible, nearby locations may be considered.

The Karanth Layout project has been held up for years by land acquisition disputes and prolonged legal proceedings, including cases before the Karnataka High Court and the Supreme Court. The delays left thousands of affected landowners waiting for the compensation promised under the original arrangement.

The authority has spent nearly ₹16,420 crore on developing the layout. Land was acquired from around 3,200 farmers and landowners, who were entitled to receive 40% of the developed land for every acre acquired.

A total of 24,714 sites have been developed under the project. Of these, 18,399 sites have been earmarked for farmers and landowners, while 3,500 are reserved for revenue site holders and another 2,815 are intended for the general public.

The layout covers residential areas, commercial spaces, civic amenities, parks and open spaces, along with roads. Residential development accounts for 39.8% of the land, while parks and open spaces make up 16.6%.

BDA Chairman N.A. Haris said technology would make the allotment process more transparent and efficient compared with earlier manual systems. He also advised beneficiaries to deal directly with the authority and avoid brokers or middlemen, particularly during the allotment process.

However, the launch was not without concerns. Farmers questioned the proposed ₹54,000 administrative fee for a 30×40 site and raised concerns about their ability to select sites based on their preferences. Discussions at the event indicated that the proposed charge could potentially be reduced to ₹12,000, although the final fee structure has not been confirmed.

The latest development marks an important step for thousands of landowners who have waited nearly two decades for compensation. However, the authority has not specified when allotments for all 18,399 beneficiaries will be completed.