The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will begin issuing occupancy certificates for buildings that deviate from sanctioned plans by up to 15 per cent, the deputy chief minister said. The relaxation, previously restricted to five per cent, is intended to assist properties that have been unable to secure water and electricity connections following a Supreme Court order. Officials framed the change as an administrative response to widespread deviations arising from high demand for land in the city.

The deputy chief minister indicated that the authority is not acting outside the law and that the move seeks to regularise structures erected in breach of approved sketches. He noted that the relevant Act permits a maximum relief of 50 per cent for plots measuring up to 40x60 sq ft and that the government has chosen to cap the exemption at 15 per cent in the present exercise. The adjustment is aimed at aligning enforcement with practical considerations while retaining statutory limits.

Separately, the administration unveiled a scheme to allow properties in layouts developed by the Bengaluru Development Authority to regularise unauthorised construction by paying prescribed fees under Section 38D of the BDA Act. The scheme, introduced during the previous state government in 2020, provides a legal pathway for owners to bring buildings into compliance. Authorities said the mechanism will facilitate the issuance of certificates and the normalisation of services.

Municipal and utility departments are expected to process applications under the revised tolerance and the BDA regularisation scheme, which could lead to a rise in regularisation filings. The move is likely to affect homeowners, developers and service providers by clarifying eligibility for connections and formal occupancy status. Observers will watch how administrative procedures manage the anticipated caseload and ensure adherence to the Act. The policy shift reflects an attempt to balance regulatory integrity with the realities of urban development.