BBMP rolls out faceless, contactless e-khata system

The e-khata initiative reduces paper waste, supporting environmental sustainability

On Thursday, many residents of Bengaluru were surprised to receive text messages notifying them that Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials would soon be visiting their homes to assist with the issuance of e-khata. The unexpected nature of the messages led to some scepticism about their authenticity. Later, BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath confirmed the initiative, stating, “Following the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, BBMP is launching a faceless, contactless, and online digital e-khata issuance system. We have digitised all 21 lakh existing BBMP khatas, and the roll-out will commence shortly.”

He further explained that as part of this initiative, BBMP staff will visit homes to record the GPS coordinates of each property in the coming days. This GPS data is essential for obtaining the BBMP e-khata, as it will serve as a unique identifier for each property. The accurate collection of this information is crucial for the seamless, contactless online delivery of BBMP e-khata services. Residents are encouraged to fully cooperate to ensure the successful implementation of this new system.

Explaining further, a BBMP official said that e-khata was currently being done at two wards on a pilot basis where the khata comes with the photo of the building as well as the khata holder. “Transitioning from handwritten khata to the new e-khata system marks a significant milestone for the Bangalore Bruhat Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and its residents. As we roll out the e-khata initiative, we aim to revolutionise property documentation, making the entire process more efficient, transparent, and user-friendly. Firstly, the digitisation of khata records is a move towards greater accuracy and reduced errors.

Traditional handwritten khata entries are prone to human error, which can lead to discrepancies and complications in property transactions. By implementing an e-khata system, we are significantly minimising these risks. The digital records ensure that data is uniformly captured and consistently updated, which enhances the accuracy and reliability of property documentation. Another key advantage of the e-khata system is its efficiency. In the past, property owners had to navigate through cumbersome paperwork and manual procedures to get their khata registered. This process was not only time-consuming but also prone to delays. With e-khata, property registration and updates can be completed online, vastly speeding up the process. This efficiency not only benefits property owners by reducing their waiting time but also streamlines our internal operations, allowing us to serve the public more effectively.”

BBMP officials said that the e-khata system promotes greater transparency and accessibility. “Digital records are easier to access and verify, which reduces the potential for fraudulent activities and unauthorised alterations. Property owners can now view and manage their khata details online, providing them with greater control and oversight. This transparency is crucial in building trust between the BBMP and the residents. The e-khata initiative also supports environmental sustainability. By reducing our reliance on paper-based records, we are contributing to a reduction in paper waste,” added the BBMP official.

Protect your property with GPS
1 The goal is to assign GPS to each property for security against mischief.
2 With GPS assigned, no one else can claim your property.
3 BBMP maintained a list of properties but did not have their locations mapped. Therefore, assigning GPS coordinates to your property protects against claims from others using different documents.

4 Multi-storey flats may share similar GPS coordinates, but the BBMP records, including flat numbers and other details, will uniquely identify each property.