Bengaluru's big Khata regularisation gamble has ended with a sobering number: just 12% of the estimated beneficiaries came forward, even after the government slashed conversion charges by 60%. When the rebate window closed on August 23, corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) had logged 80,412 applications — against a revised estimate of more than 7 lakh eligible properties.
Key facts
- 80,412 applications received by the August 23 deadline
- Only 12% of over 7 lakh estimated properties applied
- ₹525.7 crore in revenue generated so far
- Bengaluru North led with 23,354 applications and ₹144.9 crore
- Officials say no extension of the rebate is currently being discussed
North corporation leads the pack
Bengaluru North City Corporation topped the chart with 23,354 applications, generating ₹144.9 crore in revenue. The west corporation followed with 22,479 applications and ₹131.1 crore, while the south corporation logged 17,262 applications worth ₹124.3 crore. GBA officials point out that the north and west simply have more B-Khata properties on their rolls — which explains the heavier turnout there.
| Corporation | Applications | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru North | 23,354 | ₹144.9 crore |
| Bengaluru West | 22,479 | ₹131.1 crore |
| Bengaluru South | 17,262 | ₹124.3 crore |
A sluggish start, then a nine-day stampede
The scheme's early months were dismal. With the conversion charge initially pegged at 5% of the area's guidance value, owners faced bills running into lakhs of rupees — and fewer than 14,000 bothered to apply. The government then cut the charge to 2%, effectively a 60% rebate. Even so, interest stayed lukewarm until the very end. About 48,000 applications had come in by August 14; a striking 32,000 more flooded the corporations over the final nine days.
Why so many owners held back
Officials say cost is not the only hesitation. Much of the response came from pockets where property values — and therefore conversion fees — are relatively modest.
“The properties for which we have received most applications are also in places where the guidance value is relatively less, which means many are still contemplating the scheme. We also have cases where owners have applied for conversion and checked the charges, eventually retreating and not paying the charges,”
the official added. There is a structural catch, too: conversion regularises the site, but not the building standing on it. For many owners, that halves the appeal.
Corporations in no mood for a second rebate
Could the deadline be extended, given the late rush? Officials say there are no discussions about it. Behind the scenes, the corporations themselves are reluctant to offer rebates again, citing the hit to revenue. The north corporation's 2026-27 budget outlay of over ₹4,300 crore, for instance, counted on ₹680 crore from B-to-A conversions — and other corporations made similarly ambitious projections that have now taken a knock.
Still, the final tally may climb. One corporation commissioner told The Hindu that many applications remain under review, and revenue is expected to rise as they are processed.
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