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Bengaluru's attempt to digitize property records through its e-khata system is facing mounting criticism from frustrated property owners. While more than 500,000 e-khatas have been issued so far, thousands of residents continue to battle with portal glitches, rejected documents, server crashes, and incomplete data integration. In newly added BBMP zones, citizens are being told to file fresh applications despite years of tax payments. Builders, too, are struggling due to the system's inability to process bulk khatas. The BBMP is now trying to control the damage through help camps, helplines, and offline support.
Bengaluru's move to switch from paper-based property ownership records to a fully digital e-khata platform was meant to be a landmark shift in civic administration. However, the ambitious transition is faltering under pressure. Property owners across the city are voicing growing concerns as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) e-khata portal continues to throw up persistent issues ranging from technical failures and data mismatches to registration delays and rejected applications. Advertisement
Multiple residents from newly incorporated areas under BBMP's jurisdiction reported that, despite paying property tax regularly, their names were not found in the system. As a result, they've been directed to apply afresh for khatas through the online platform. This has left many wondering why existing tax data wasn't migrated properly during the expansion.
The core technical trouble lies in the shaky integration between BBMP's property record system, e-Aasthi, and the state's property registration platform, Kaveri-2. This disconnection has led to mismatched or missing records during property transactions. Officials also admitted that a server crash in a ward in North Bengaluru had wiped out around ten days' worth of uploaded documents, forcing applicants to re-upload everything from scratch.
Adding to the chaos, developers across the city are struggling to register completed properties. A key reason: the current system does not allow for bulk khata processing, which builders need when dealing with large-scale apartment projects. Several homebuyers have taken to social platforms like Reddit to say that developers have postponed registration indefinitely until bulk support is enabled.
In response to rising complaints, BBMP has stepped up damage control. The civic body has been organizing offline support camps, including property documentation and drives at residential complexes. One such mega camp earlier this week saw documents processed for over 3,000 applicants, with hundreds of e-khatas issued on-site. Officials said more such camps will be held to ease the backlog.
Munesh Moudgil, Special Commissioner (Revenue) at BBMP, shared that over 500,000 e-khatas had already been issued across the city and encouraged residents especially those in newly added zones-to apply online or through Bangalore One service centers. A helpline has also been launched to assist residents facing delays or technical issues.
Despite these measures, citizen frustration continues to grow. Many complain of frequent rejections without clear reasons, errors in property details, and delays even after application submission. BBMP insiders admitted that staffing shortages, especially in revenue departments, have further slowed the application review process particularly in newly added zones.
What's causing the bottleneck?
Technical overload and legacy infrastructure: The surge in user traffic, combined with outdated digital architecture, is causing repeated portal crashes and rejections.
Poor system interoperability: The lack of seamless integration between BBMP's e-Aasthi and the Kaveri-2 registration platform is causing data mismatches, stalling transactions.
Data loss: A major server failure in a North Bengaluru ward erased nearly ten days of records, forcing residents to restart the process.
Resource constraints: BBMP staff, often diverted for other civic assignments, have been unable to meet the growing demand for khata verifications.
Delays for builders: Real estate developers are in limbo, waiting for the system to permit bulk khata processing, which is essential for flat registrations in completed projects.
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