Apartments in Bengaluru can get A-khata but only after e-khata, as Oct scheme extends citywide

Bengaluru: Apartment owners in Bengaluru may finally be on the path to securing A-khata, but only after clearing a crucial digital hurdle — obtaining an e-khata first. The Karnataka govt has clarified that flats in officially approved apartment complexes, even if currently holding B-khata, will be eligible for A-khata conversion once they are onboarded onto the e-khata system. Officials said this move is an extension of a similar regularisation initiative that rolled out for individual B-khata sites in Oct.Under the revised framework, A-khata will be issued to apartments built in approved layouts and sanctioned buildings that may violate provisions of the 1961 municipal law, subject to penalties. The rules, which were initially implemented in the Greater Bengaluru Area, will now apply across all urban local bodies in the city.For apartment owners, the process is two-step. First, each flat owner must obtain an e-khata by uploading ownership documents and tax records on the online portal. Only after the e-khata is issued can an application for A-khata be submitted. Officials said individual applications are mandatory, even within the same apartment complex.Eligibility conditions include full payment of property tax for the current year, the existence of a sanctioned building plan for the apartment, and land that already carries a B-khata. Penalties for deviations will be calculated based on the extent of violations, ranging from 5% of the guidance value to as high as 50% in cases of construction beyond the approved plan.Residents welcomed the clarity but remain cautious. "For years we paid taxes but were denied A-khata because we were classified as B-khata apartments. If e-khata is the final bridge, we will comply, but the penalty structure is still unclear," said Suresh R, an apartment owner in Whitefield. Another resident from Yelahanka said many flat owners are unsure how deviations will be assessed and apportioned among individual units.Officials pointed out that the apartment initiative mirrors the Oct scheme announced for individual B-khata site owners. That plan allowed conversion of B-khata plots up to 21,527 sqft abutting public roads, provided owners first obtained e-khata and paid a 5% charge on the guidance value, along with mutation and map approval fees.Defending the mandatory e-khata step, the Greater Bengaluru Authority said digitisation is essential to verify ownership and prevent misuse. Munish Moudgil, special commissioner (revenue), said e-khata acts as the base record.With Bengaluru estimated to have around 7.5 lakh B-khata properties, of which only about 2.6 lakh converted to e-khata so far, experts warn that while apartments now have a clearer route to A-khata, the pace of e-khata issuance will determine how quickly this long-promised relief translates into reality.