Despite being introduced to make property registration and ownership processes more efficient, Bengaluru’s e-Khata system continues to frustrate property owners with long delays, technical glitches, and mounting paperwork.
Homeowners across the city say that what was meant to be a seamless digital process has turned into a bureaucratic maze. Many complain that applications get stuck for months, forcing them to hire middlemen or agents who charge anywhere between ₹15,000 and ₹40,000 to “expedite” approvals. Even minor errors such as name spelling or mismatched documents often require multiple visits to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) offices.
Introduced as part of the city’s digitisation drive, the e-Khata system was designed to make property tax payments and ownership updates transparent and accessible online. However, users report that the online portal frequently rejects applications citing “data mismatch” or outdated property numbers, compelling owners to complete the process offline.
Owners of B-Khata properties—those with pending approvals or deviations—say they face even longer delays. Converting their properties to e-Khata is mandatory before obtaining an A-Khata, which formally validates ownership and allows access to loans, building permits, and resale approvals.
Civic experts believe that while the e-Khata initiative is a step toward modernising urban record-keeping, execution gaps have limited its impact. They recommend streamlining online verification, reducing physical documentation, and increasing transparency through status-tracking dashboards.
Until such reforms are implemented, Bengaluru’s property owners fear that digitisation will remain digital only in name—continuing to drain both time and money in a system meant to simplify real estate ownership.
