The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has initiated a city-wide drive to recover pending property taxes from nearly 3.75 lakh defaulters. According to BBMP Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, these property owners collectively owe the civic body between ₹700 crore and ₹800 crore in unpaid dues. In parallel, BBMP has received over 50,000 fresh applications for Khata registration, indicating a surge in interest for formal property documentation.
Addressing a review meeting held on July 28, Mr. Rao instructed revenue officials to issue notices to all defaulting property owners. The civic body confirmed that these notices will be sent via SMS and email to facilitate faster communication. Rao clarified that individuals who have already cleared their dues need not take any further action, but defaulters must settle their outstanding taxes without delay.
In his remarks, Mr. Rao emphasized that improving property tax compliance remains a top priority for BBMP. He urged officials to adopt more effective collection mechanisms and said that automation and targeted outreach would be critical to meeting revenue targets. Rao also underlined the importance of processing Khata applications swiftly, stating that timely approvals could significantly increase annual tax collections.
The BBMP’s ongoing efforts are part of a broader strategy to improve transparency in property ownership records. The Khata document, particularly the A-Khata, serves as legal proof of property ownership and is a prerequisite for obtaining building plan approvals, utility connections, and home loans. Properties listed under B-Khata often lack legal clearances and are typically found in revenue layouts or areas awaiting regularization.
BBMP officials confirmed that an online system for A-Khata applications is expected to be launched within the next two weeks. The new platform will allow property owners to apply for conversion from B-Khata to A-Khata or submit a new Khata request altogether. The civic body has urged citizens to use the digital platform once it goes live, avoiding unnecessary visits to zonal offices or middlemen.
The increase in Khata applications is being viewed as a positive development. Over 50,000 new requests have already been received since the beginning of the current financial year. BBMP expects this number to grow further as the new online facility becomes operational. Rao has directed zonal commissioners to ensure that processing backlogs are cleared quickly so that property records are updated and tax payments begin flowing in.
With property tax being a critical source of revenue for the city, the civic body is also evaluating new measures to improve compliance. These may include linking Khata status to service eligibility, applying interest penalties on prolonged defaults, and expanding the use of digital mapping to identify unregistered properties. Sources within the BBMP’s revenue department indicated that the recent focus on streamlining documentation has helped identify multiple cases of ownership irregularities, prompting a reassessment of tax liabilities.
Citizens who currently do not possess a valid Khata or whose properties are under B-Khata status are being encouraged to regularize their documentation. Officials noted that timely documentation not only enables access to legal and financial services but also enhances property value over time.
The BBMP’s revenue wing has been working closely with ward-level officials to identify high-risk areas where compliance is especially low. A special enforcement team has been formed to oversee the recovery of large pending dues, particularly in commercial pockets of the city. The civic body is also coordinating with banks and housing finance companies to create awareness around the importance of A-Khata documentation during loan approvals.
While the recovery drive has drawn mixed responses from residents, BBMP maintains that the initiative is essential for improving civic infrastructure. Property tax revenue is a primary funding source for urban maintenance, stormwater drains, road repairs, waste management, and street lighting. Rao reiterated that without proper compliance, these services could suffer, impacting the quality of life in the city.
The civic body is expected to release further details about the digital Khata application platform in early August. Meanwhile, notices will continue to be issued over the next few weeks as BBMP intensifies its tax recovery campaign.
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