Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda and GBA officials at the launch of the Nambike Nakshe 2.0 building-plan approval system. Image credit: Greater Bengaluru Authority.
Bengaluru: The Greater Bengaluru Authority has launched Nambike Nakshe 2.0, a fully automated building-plan approval system that promises to clear eligible residential plans in around 30 minutes, compared with the two to three months the process previously took.
The system initially covers residential sites measuring up to 50×80 feet, or 4,000 square feet, with proposals involving up to four dwelling units. Applications must be submitted online through a qualified architect and comply with applicable town-planning regulations.
Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda launched the upgraded platform, which seeks to reduce paperwork and routine human intervention while making approvals more transparent and predictable.
The GBA said the reform was undertaken on the directions of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar as part of efforts to make civic services faster and more citizen-friendly.
“Citizens who comply with the rules should not have to spend months waiting for approval of their building plans or make repeated visits to government offices,” Byre Gowda said.
He said Nambike Nakshe 2.0 was designed to simplify the system through technology and remove avoidable delays instead of merely transferring the existing paperwork to an online platform.
How the automated approval system works
Under the new system, a qualified architect can submit an eligible residential building plan entirely online. If the plan conforms to the prescribed regulations, the platform will process it automatically and issue approval in approximately 30 minutes.
The GBA said this would turn what had often been a prolonged administrative exercise into a faster and more predictable service for property owners.
e-Khata integration to reduce documentation
Applicants will not be required to upload their Khata and several other property-related documents separately. Once an e-Khata number is entered, the platform will automatically retrieve the property’s basic ownership information.
According to the GBA, the integration is intended to reduce repeated submission of documents already available in government databases.
‘Trust, but Verify’
The platform has been built around the principle of “Trust, but Verify”. It places responsibility on citizens and qualified architects to submit compliant plans while using technology-based checks to verify adherence to planning regulations.
The GBA expects automation to reduce the role of intermediaries and minimise opportunities for unnecessary human intervention, making the rules, application process and outcome more transparent.
Pilot launch before wider expansion
Nambike Nakshe 2.0 will initially operate as a pilot project in selected areas. The authority will review its functioning and introduce necessary improvements before expanding it across the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s jurisdiction.
The GBA also plans to examine simplified, technology-driven approval mechanisms for larger developments and commercial buildings during subsequent phases.
Warning against misuse
Byre Gowda cautioned that the trust-based system did not dilute accountability and warned of stringent penalties for deliberate violations or misuse.
“The system is based on trust, but that trust cannot be misused. Anyone who deliberately violates the rules or misuses the system will face stringent penalties,” he said.
GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, Special Commissioner Muneesh Moudgil, East City Corporation Commissioner D.S. Ramesh, Chief Town Planner P. Sunil Kumar, Additional Chief Town Planner B.N. Girish and other senior officials attended the launch.
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