GBA moves to eliminate middlemen and delays with Passport-Style E-Khata counters

Bengaluru

Amid complaints from citizens and builders, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is set to overhaul e-khata delivery and fast-track major infrastructure upgrades, with officials announcing a series of reforms and high-value road projects across the city.

Additional Chief Secretary Tushar Giri Nath said the GBA will soon roll out a Passport Centers Model to make e-khata services faster and more citizen-friendly. The new centers—one per zone—aim to reduce delays and eliminate middlemen. A 25-member surveillance team has been deployed to monitor officials, and disciplinary action will be taken against those who reject applications without justification.

So far, 8 lakh e-khatas have been issued through Bengaluru One centers and 1,000 volunteers. The earlier round-robin system has now been replaced with an improved mechanism. Special Commissioner Munish Moudgil urged citizens not to approach agents and said online applications will be processed within set timelines.

Addressing reporters, Giri Nath announced that ₹4,800 crore worth of road development has been taken up in the city, such as White Topping, Black Topping and High-Density Corridor works.

• 157 km white-topping: ₹1,700 crore (Brand Bengaluru + State funds)
  
• 79 km High-Density Corridors: ₹273 crore
  
• 392 km black-topping: ₹694 crore
  
• Total ongoing works: 628 km
  

He said: Another 401 km are under Defect Liability Period, while planning is underway to upgrade the remaining 500 km. “expected to resolve nearly 80% of traffic bottlenecks. “Except 10–12 km, black-topping works will finish by January 15, while white-topping and new state-funded works will finish by March 2026. Tender-stage works will conclude by June 2026.”

A total of 22,539 potholes have been filled. Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao said the goal is to complete remaining stretches within a month.

Major mobility projects

Hebbal–Mekhri circle cut & cover underpass:
A three-lane twin underpass (toll-free), costing ₹2,215 crore, has been approved. Tenders will be floated in January 2026.

Tunnel roads:
Two major tunnels—16.74 km (North–South) and 20 km (East–West), totalling 36.74 km—will be built at ₹45,000 crore, funded through government allocations and HUDCO loans.

Elevated corridors
A DPR for 13 elevated corridors (126.44 km) at ₹18,204 crore awaits Assembly approval.

Double-Decker flyovers
To reduce land acquisition costs, 40 km of metro-integrated double-decker flyovers costing ₹9,000 crore are planned. BMRCL is preparing the DPR.

Other key announcements

• Tenders for solid waste management have been invited in 33 packages; 132 bids received.
  
• Mechanized sweeping will follow a rental model; citizens can send suggestions to gbasuggestion@gmail.com.
  
• Karnataka High Court upholding the Premium FAR scheme is expected to generate ₹2,000 crore annually.
  
• Footpaths will be built using brushed concrete.
  
• MG Road will use Stone Matrix Asphalt instead of white-topping.
  
• Under NDMF, upgrades to stormwater drains—including 22 culverts—are approved; LoAs issued for 8 of 13 packages.
  
• Under the World Bank-assisted Water Security & Disaster Resilience Programme, 173 km of new drains and 80 km of RCC upgrades are underway.