A file photo of the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout.

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly Petition Committee has summoned Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) Commissioner N. Jayaram to appear in person on January 30 to address concerns regarding the lack of progress in developing the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL). 

Mr. Jayaram did not turn up for the hearing on Thursday, citing a court appearance. Instead, engineer-member H.R Shantharajanna represented the BDA and Deputy Secretary Prashanth appeared on behalf of the Urban Development Department.

Inadequate infrastructure

During the proceedings, Suresh Kumar, member and MLA, criticised the BDA for failing to deliver the promised basic infrastructure at NPKL, despite being granted two extensions. The most recent deadline, which expired in November 2024, showed minimal progress.

Mr. Kumar also questioned the BDA’s decision to prioritise asphalting roads in the Shivaram Karanth Layout, where sites are yet to be allotted, instead of the NPKL, which has 10,000 allottees. Many of these allottees are senior citizens who have invested their life savings to build houses but are unable to do so owing to the absence of essential infrastructure, like roads, drainage, electricity, and drinking water. Several committee members noted that some residents who had started construction were facing significant hardships.

Inspection

C.N. Balakrishna, MLA, suggested a spot inspection to assess the ground realities, a proposal supported by S.T. Somashekar, committee chairman and Yeshwantpur MLA, who added that the committee would decide after hearing from the Commissioner in the next meeting.

The committee observed that residents of NPKL were being forced to draw power lines from distant villages at their own expense, incurring high commercial tariffs for domestic electricity.