Citing high TDR value, Karnataka govt. decides to drop proposal to acquire palace land for road widening,

Over 15 years after notifying the Bangalore Palace Grounds land for widening the traffic-heavy Ballari Road and Jayamahal Road, the Karnataka government has decided to drop the proposal to acquire the palace land. The reason cited is that the Transferable Development Rights (TDR) value fixed by the Supreme Court has made the acquisition unviable. The value of TDR is estimated to be around ₹3,011 crore based on the rate fixed by the Supreme Court.

Over 15 years after notifying the Bangalore Palace Grounds land for widening the traffic-heavy Ballari Road and Jayamahal Road, the Karnataka government has decided to drop the proposal to acquire the palace land. The reason cited is that the Transferable Development Rights (TDR) value fixed by the Supreme Court has made the acquisition unviable. The value of TDR is estimated to be around ₹3,011 crore based on the rate fixed by the Supreme Court.

While the Cabinet on Thursday decided to file an interim application before the Supreme Court seeking urgent hearing of the validity of the Bangalore Palace Acquisition Act, 1996, it has also decided to drop the land acquisition, it has come to light.

The decision was made in the light of contempt proceedings coming up in the court.

Though the Cabinet has decided not to acquire the land, the government has decided to provide TDR for 1,217.41 square metres that has been utilised already for the construction of Jayamahal underpass. The value of this TDR is estimated to be ₹24.83 crore. The unutilised land will be returned.

“The Supreme Court rate for the TDR to be given for land acquisition is expected to cause financial burden on the State exchequer and will have adverse impact on financial discipline,” a Cabinet note said. The Cabinet also felt that financially unviable projects are against public interest and public policy.

The Supreme Court has fixed ₹2,83,500 per square metre on Ballari Road and ₹2,04,000 per square metre on Jayamahal Road as the TDR. The total value of the TDR to be given to the erstwhile royal family is estimated to be ₹3,011.66 crore for 15 acres and 17.5 guntas or about 62,475.27 square metres that was notified to be acquired in 2009.

Interestingly, the Bangalore Development Authority, in 2024, fixed ₹120.68 per square metre that would amount to about ₹11 crore for the sprawling 472 acres. The calculation was based on the 1996 value of the land when the Palace Acquisition Act came into force.