BDA hits a dead end as developer?

Is the dream of owning a site developed by the Bangalore Development Authority losing its sheen? For one, BDA layouts are plagued with a host of issues that don’t make them viable housing options or even an investment, argues urban expert Ashwin Mahesh. A senior BDA official conceded that the practice of the authority to first allot sites and then work on providing basic infrastructure of water, sanitation, roads and electricity, is proving to be a deterrent. “These apartments are located in areas with no social infrastructure such as schools, shops, hospitals and even approach roads,” a BDA official said. According to a BDA official, the authority has also realised that apartments are a better way forward, as sites have low occupancy rates and were often used for speculation.