BBMP to demolish illegal buildings in Bengaluru's Whitefield layout

BENGALURU: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will demolish illegal constructions in Whitefield’s White Rose Layout soon. Civic officials said 68 out of 72 buildings in the layout have been identified as unauthorised structures.
According to an RTI reply, nearly 52% of buildings in the fast-developing layout lack approval from BBMP. Some have no plan approval and others have deviated.
“White Rose Layout is a primary locality for the working population and students, and is home to several PG accommodations.However, only a few have been approved,” said Sandeep Anirudhan, a citizen activist of Whitefield. A senior civic official told TOI, “In July 2023, the BBMP chief commissioner announced a 117-day drive to check illegal buildings, send notices and demolish them. A survey conducted in Oct 2023 identified most of the illegal structures. Many lack proper sewage systems, leading to frequent overflows on the roads. The parking situation is also terrible in this locality.”
Even after the drive, illegal buildings haven’t yet been removed, according to Whitefield residents. A BBMP official cited lack of manpower as the primary reason for the delay. Initially, BBMP had assistance from marshals and solid waste management department. But the SWM team has withdrawn support, leaving the engineering wing to manage on its own.
MN Lokesh, chief engineer of Mahadevapura, said most structures of the layout are illegal and notices have been issued for demolition, expected to begin soon.