Check twice before buying site with BMRDA approval tag
A NEWS REPORT ON 29-05-2014:READ
BANGALORE: Realty investors regularly fall for this old trick: a stamp of approval by a government agency. Increasingly, developers are advertising layouts carrying an ‘Approved by BMRDA’ tagline to make the sites appear clear and more alluring. Often, Bangalore Metropolitan Regional Development Authority has little to do with the layout.
Narahari K was one such investor who was blind-sided by the BMRDA tag on an online advertisement about affordable plots near Sarjapur Road. The developer claimed the layout was “approved” by the agency, so Narahari (name changed) decided to invest in a site. He also encouraged his friends to put in their money. Two months later, Narahari was in for a shock: the layout was illegal without any approval from any planning authority.
Narahari’s plight is shared by thousands of Bangaloreans who are cheated into buying sites without the required approvals. BMRDA has even issued a circular, warning property buyers not to fall for false claims.
A senior BMRDA official told TOI they’ve come across advertisements in various media and hoardings as well, where developers claim have got their layouts approved by BMRDA.
“Buyers should be aware that any layout approval should come from the local planning authorities and not from BMRDA directly. Planning authorities in Anekal, Hoskote, Kanakapura, Magadi, Nelamangala and Ramanagaram-Channapatna are empowered to approve layouts. The Bangalore International Airport Area Planning Authority (BIAAPA) is for Devanahalli region. BMRDA only frames rules to help these authorities with master plans. Buyers should check for related documents to ensure they’re buying properties approved by these planning authorities,” he added.
The official said fraudulent developers who have no approval from any planning authority just put the ‘BMRDA approved’ seal on their advertisements to make buyers believe everything is fine. “There are also cases of fake documents doing the rounds in this regard,” he added.
Over 400 illegal layouts
BMRDA deputy director Thimmegowda said in order to help buyers with valid transactions, the authority has put out a list of illegal layouts on its website. “We’ve also instructed the planning authorities to issue notice to erring developers and ensure action is initiated against the culprits,” he added.
Officials with BMRDA said there are around 430 layouts categorized as illegal in their jurisdiction for not having sanction from the planning authorities concerned. “Nelamangala region tops the list with over 200 such layouts followed by BIAAPA and Anekal,” he added.
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