If the Urban Development Department’s plan to popularise the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) scheme is approved, owners whose land is acquired for infrastructure projects are likely to get development rights not only for the land but also for the portion of the building that is demolished. The department is also planning to link TDR to the prevailing zonal guidance value.
Sources in the Department told The Hindu that the proposal was to enhance the development rights offered to property owners from 1.5 times of the notional value of the land acquired to at least 2.5 times, or even more depending on the guidance value.
If a building was located on the land and a portion of the building was demolished, the proposal was to give the owner more benefits. This would encourage property owners to participate in “development” by opting for the TDR scheme.
The sources said that the department would press for an amendment to the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act as TDR was now under-utilised. Although it was applicable to all urban local bodies in the State, it was being used only in Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore. “We want to ensure that the owners get appropriate compensation in the form of development rights,” the sources added.
The proposed amendment would incorporate a rule that would envisage offering TDR to government buildings as well. Now, only private land owners can avail themselves of the benefits.
The rights envisage permitting an additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to owners whose land is acquired for road-widening.
The urban local bodies can acquire the land without paying compensation and the owners have the option to either extend construction or sell the “rights” to a prospective builder in specified zones.
As of now under the TDR, the government was offering the owner development rights, which was one-and-a-half times the size of the acquired property.
The sources said that Urban Development Minister Vinaykumar Sorake was keen on getting the Act amended in this session.
At a preliminary meeting that was held recently with Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra and other Ministers from Bangalore, the Urban Development Department was asked to submit details such as how many people had opted for it so far and reasons for the poor response.
