Bengaluru: In a move that could impact private layouts and large residential clusters in Bengaluru, the Karnataka government has introduced a bill empowering Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to unilaterally declare private roads as public streets.
Earlier, BBMP needed the consent of a majority of property owners on a private street before converting it into a public road. However, under the newly proposed BBMP (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the civic body can take this decision independently if the condition of the street is considered hazardous to public safety and health.
The bill states that the zonal commissioner may act on their own accord or upon receiving requests from property owners on the private street or those abutting it. Before declaring a private road public, the commissioner must issue a public notice and notify the owners.
Also, if a private street requires improvement, development or maintenance — including roadside drains — the zonal commissioner can direct property owners to carry out necessary work within a specified timeframe. If the owners fail to comply, BBMP will execute the work and recover costs as property tax arrears.
The bill proposes strict measures to curb unauthorized constructions, giving zonal commissioners the authority to seal ongoing constructions if they are deemed illegal. The provision also allows BBMP to prevent owners from using unauthorized buildings or parts of them.
The amendment, if passed, is expected to streamline urban infrastructure development while giving BBMP more autonomy in managing Bengaluru’s rapidly growing residential zones.