Bengaluru civic body to use AI for property tax crackdown, doorstep khata delivery from April

DK Shivakumar said that the initiative to deliver khata at people's doorsteps will be rolled out from April.

Published on: Mar 25, 2025, 07:56:46 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will now use artificial intelligence to deliver property documents to the doorstep and to identify illegal constructions, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced on Monday.

Shivakumar was addressing a press conference after a meeting with legislators of Bengaluru on BBMP budget 2025-26, he said, "Many property owners have built excess floor areas without a legal sanction. And, they are not paying proportionate taxes as well. We will use artificial intelligence to identify and measure such illegal constructions", news agency ANI reported.

He said that property tax was not paid on about 7 lakh properties, of which one lakh have been brought under tax bracket. "The remaining needs to be brought under tax bracket. The BBMP did not have the power to attach illegal properties, but a law has been passed regarding that last week. It has also been decided to declare even private roads in private layouts as public roads," he explained.

"I have instructed senior officials to suspend those BBMP officials who are hand in glove with owners of illegal properties. All properties must pay taxes and there is no compromise on that. Some of the MLAs have suggested classifying residences as group housing and single housing while issuing approvals.

He said that the initiative to deliver khata at people's doorsteps will be rolled out from April. "All property documents have been digitised. We will conduct awareness programmes in association with the MLAs of the respective constituencies," he informed.

(Also Read: Bengaluru man killed by wife, mother-in-law over suspected affairs, business fraud; body found abandoned in car)

BBMP crackdown

Bengaluru’s civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has intensified its efforts to recover pending property tax dues, targeting 1.73 lakh chronic defaulters who collectively owe ₹390 crore.

According to Munish Moudgil, BBMP’s Special Commissioner (Revenue), a total of 3.49 lakh property owners have failed to pay their dues out of the 20.5 lakh registered taxpayers in the city.

Of these, 1.76 lakh have defaulted only for the current year, while 1.73 lakh have repeatedly failed to pay their taxes over several years, making them chronic defaulters.

(With ANI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.