From layouts to highrises: Is the BDA model changing for good? | Bengaluru News

Vindhya.Pabolu@timesofindia.comBengaluru: As the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) moves to prioritise apartments over large plotted layouts—citing better land-use efficiency and the need to maximise scarce urban land—questions are being raised about whether this marks the beginning of the end for its layout-driven housing model. Officials argue that apartment projects enable faster housing delivery and help avoid land fragmentation.

“Discussions are on, and we don’t foresee a drastic change, but there will be a significant shift towards apartments as land use becomes far more efficient. Providing a roof is a basic requirement, but it need not always be a 30×40 plot. While we remain aware of the demand for plots, our focus is on building roofs. We’ll take a call based on market response. BDA plans to launch more apartment projects, and with the barriers now being removed, we’ll see how quickly they sell. We don’t want to create ghost apartments, but we are balancing both plots and apartments,” a BDA official said.However, BDA sales data presents a mixed picture. Until now, BDA has built 13 apartment projects at multiple locations. Of BDA’s total inventory of 4,607 flats, around 2,310 units, or roughly 50.1%, were sold, leaving 2,297 flats unsold, underscoring a sizeable leftover stock in the BDA housing portfolio.The BDA Kaneminke projects had mixed sales – Phases 2, 3, and 4, with 2BHK and 3BHK flats priced Rs 25-40 lakh, were fully sold, but just 45 of 393 3BHK units in Phase 5, priced Rs 67.8 lakh, were sold. At Hunnigere, 3BHK and 4BHK villas priced Rs 90 lakh–Rs 1.3 crore saw moderate sales, while 1BHK units remained largely unsold, with only 7 of 312 booked.Other BDA projects have shown varied demand. Around half of the 1BHK flats at Gunjur Phase 1 and Thippasandra, priced Rs 13-14.5 lakh, were sold. Kommaghatta NPKL phases and Alur Phase 1 1BHK flats had slow to moderate sales.BDA said the aim is to change the perception of govt flats and match private societies. These flats will be affordable and functional. “We are looking into why people are not buying flats, and we came to know that it is due to lack of basic amenities. Earlier, buying a BDA apartment was a hassle, with people hoarding units for their families and treating it as a 30-year project. Making the process fully online will simplify and bring transparency, allowing buyers to access data directly and end reliance on personal connections. If the market accepts them, apartments will become more common. Roads and approach routes are being upgraded, so residents do not face difficulties reaching the apartments,” the official added.At present, BDA is revamping its marketing strategy — improving approach roads, setting up model flats, appointing on-site staff, and listing units on housing portals — to ensure unsold inventory gets sold. Many residents flagged the lack of basic amenities, such as roads, as their biggest gaps.