Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is set to grow bigger, with the Government toying with an idea of merging Bangalore International Airport (BIA) and 500 metres of area on either side of NH-7 till the airport with the local body.

BBMP Administrator has passed a resolution to this effect on June 20 and forwarded it to the Urban Development department, which is likely to issue a notification shortly. The resolution has been passed following a decision taken by a high level committee headed by the Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao on March 18, official sources said.

Presently, BBMP’s jurisdiction is only till Byatarayanapura zone. The entire area beyond it - from Delhi Public School in Byatarayanapura till BIA - falls under the jurisdiction of Bangalore north taluk, Hunasemaranahalli village panchayat and Devanahalli taluk.

The Government by including these area with BBMP, officials sources said, intends to ensure orderly development in this “sensitive” corridor by preventing unauthorised and haphazard constructions.
“As the entire stretch of area along NH-7 falls under the jurisdiction of panchayat bodies, it’s easy for property owners to flout rules.

The Government just wants to prevent it. Moreover, it will be easy for the Government to take up necessary infrastructure projects in this corridor in future if this area is under BBMP,” officials pointed out.

Notification

Once Government issues the notification, all existing property owners, including BIA, have to pay property tax to BBMP. This will bring more revenue to the Palike. In fact, BIA alone pays around Rs 7 crore as property tax, sources said.Meanwhile, the Government has directed BBMP to shoulder the responsibility of routine maintenance of a stretch of NH-7 - between Hebbal and BIA. The task includes cleaning, clearing of debris and others. BBMP, however, will not do the civil maintenance of the national highway. NH-7 is owned by the Centre’s National Highway Authority of India, sources said.

Source: DHNS