Bengaluru: Master plan 2015 has included certain amendments which can lead to commercialization in residential areas seemingly at the instance of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (CREDAI), Bengaluru according to its own file on the subject accessed by the   Civic Action Forum (CAF). 

The CAF had legally fought the “mixed residential” usage in Master plan 2015 that encouraged commercialization in residential areas.

According to the file, an official meeting between Urban Development Department (UDD) officials and the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (CREDAI), Bengaluru, representatives took place in relation to, and prior to the recent amendments to the BDA master plan zoning regulations, which seemingly indicate how the ‘plan’ included “builder/developer-friendly” amendments came about.

Following the High Court order banning commercial activities in residential areas with roads less than 40 ft width, the government last month notified certain amendments to the Master plan zoning regulations, which are in total contravention of what the BDA swore before the court. The Master plan is a document that demarcates spaces for development of residential, commercial, industrial zones along with parks, open spaces, drains etc.

The UDD tweakedthe BDA’s proposal, which spoke about disallowing commercial activities in residential areas with roads (carriageway) less than 40 feet, to get its way. They changed the feet to meters, and cited 12 metres (which is 39 feet) and permitted avenues for  large-scale commercialization in residential localities, which could now even house IT firms.

Once notified in the gazette, the BDA commissioner T Sham Bhat reportedly told the chief minister that the government had changed the proposals, without considering his views.  The question is, who took the decision to favor the developers lobby in the UDD?  Those who saw the file, say that the note was not in favor of commercial activity in mixed residential and residential main usage  in the three rings (core area, suburbs and outer areas) until the meeting with CREDAI, took place after which it took off in a different  direction.

Sources indicate also that the draft notification is missing from the file, however the seven objections, ironically, all from builders are available in the file.

As per rules, the government has to first publish the draft notification calling for suggestions/objections from citizens, giving a minimum of 15 days. Subsequently, the final notification would be issued.

The issue is now in the realm of  controversy and the government is hopefully re-thinking the amendments.