KHB Preliminary Notification to Acquire 315 Acres in B.M. Kaval for Kengeri Township

What Was Decided

In a significant move to address the growing demand for affordable housing in Bengaluru, the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) has issued a preliminary notification for the acquisition of 315 acres of land in BM Kaval village near Kengeri. The land, strategically located off Mysuru Road and well-connected by NICE Road and the Namma Metro Purple Line extension, is intended to be developed into residential plots and housing units for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Low-Income Group (LIG), and Middle-Income Group (MIG) families.

KHB Commissioner Dayananda K.A. mentioned that this initiative is part of a broader state effort to provide 10,000 homes to houseless families across Karnataka. The Kengeri acquisition is expected to make a substantial contribution toward this goal.

The Land: Blocks, Kharab Portion and Ownership

The 315 acres identified for acquisition are divided into three blocks within BM Kaval. Of this, 41 acres are already classified as government-owned "kharab" land. That leaves roughly 274 acres of privately held land subject to acquisition. As of February 2026 coverage of the wider project, 41 acres of government-owned 'kharab' land have already been identified, while the remaining private land is in the process of acquisition.

Compensation Terms: The 50:50 Land-Sharing Model

The Karnataka Housing Board plans to implement a 50:50 land-sharing model in this development. Under this scheme, original landowners will receive 50% of the developed plots, while the remaining land will be used by the board to create housing projects aimed at lower- and middle-income groups. This is the standard KHB compensation mechanism for land acquired directly from private owners rather than through outright cash purchase.

Location and Connectivity Cited in the Notification

Kengeri has emerged as a high-potential zone for urban expansion due to its improving infrastructure. The area already benefits from strong public transport facilities, including the metro station, BMTC bus depot, and access to NICE Road. Furthermore, a proposed suburban railway corridor connecting Kengeri to Whitefield, known as the Parijaata Line, is expected to further enhance the area's connectivity once completed.

Objection Period and Next Procedural Steps

The acquisition process will proceed in phases. After the 60-day objection period, KHB will finalize the terms of acquisition, including compensation packages for landowners. Following this, the land will be surveyed, divided, and developed into plotted layouts and housing complexes, with proper amenities and public infrastructure. As of the notification date, no final acquisition award or approved layout plan had been issued — this is a preliminary, not a final, notification.

Follow-On Development: The Wider 500-Acre Township Tender

By early 2026, KHB's plans for the B.M. Kaval site had scaled up beyond the original 315-acre notification. The Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) has announced plans to develop a large-scale township spread across 500 acres in villages near Kengeri, and as part of the initiative, the KHB has invited tenders for land acquisition and appointment of an architectural and engineering firm (AEF) to develop an international-standard township and housing project. The tender has been floated through the Karnataka Public Procurement Portal (KPP). The proposed township will be developed in B.M. Kaval and surrounding villages of Kengeri Hobli in Bengaluru South taluk, falling within the Bengaluru Urban district, with bids due by February 3.

The land acquisition process began in July 2025, with notifications issued for acquiring land in B.M. Kaval, following the same 50:50 compensation model under which landowners will receive half of the developed plots as compensation. This confirms the July 2025 preliminary notification described above is the acquisition instrument underpinning the larger 500-acre township concept, with the additional ~185 acres apparently drawn from surrounding villages beyond the initial three notified blocks.

Practical Effect

For landowners in the notified blocks, the practical effect is that their holdings are now formally under acquisition proceedings, with a defined window to file objections before terms are locked in under the 50:50 model. For prospective allottees, the land will be surveyed, divided, and developed into plotted layouts and housing complexes, with proper amenities and public infrastructure only after this process is complete — meaning no plots or homes are yet available for allotment. The project is also expected to ease pressure on Bengaluru's central zones by promoting well-planned suburban residential clusters.