CAG report highlights revenue losses in housing project due to BDA negligence

BENGALURU: The Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report has slammed the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) for improper execution of the Kaniminike housing project at Kumbalagodu near the city.

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According the CAG report, the BDA did not work with an understanding of public demand and had wasted Rs 27.24 crore without providing connecting roads and lost Rs 451.53 crore revenue, which was invested on the project. It also did not fulfill the objective of providing houses to people from the Economically Weeker Sections (EWS) of society.

The CAG report has rapped over several issues:

The BDA did not conduct a ‘demand survey’ to assess viability of the Kaniminike housing project

Though the project was completed, only 224 flats out of 1,500 have been allotted to beneficiaries.

BDA did not follow BBMP building construction by-laws while executing the project

As per norms, setback of 12 metres should be maintained up to the road in front of the multi-storeyed building and connecting roads should be provided to residential units.

BDA completed the project without finalising the connecting road to Mysuru highway.

As per the CAG assessment, the major reason for not flats remaining unsold was because the BDA could not find a solution to the connecting road issue till March 2022.

The CAG report has recommended that, henceforth, housing projects should be taken only after the BDA has ensured infrastructure, amenities including demand survey and connecting roads.