BDA Launches New Maintenance Policy for Bengaluru Apartments

BDA Maintenance Policy

Arjun Nambiar

Sun, May 3 2026•10 min read

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is preparing to roll out a new maintenance policy for its apartment projects across Bengaluru in the coming months. The move comes as a response to a long-standing gap in structured governance over how apartment maintenance is managed, funded, and eventually transferred to residents.

Currently, BDA handles essential services lifts, security, garbage disposal, and common area upkeep for its residential projects. However, there has been no standardized framework that clearly defines charges, timelines, or responsibilities between the authority and residents. The new policy aims to change this.

What the New BDA Maintenance Policy Covers

According to BDA officials, the upcoming policy will address three core areas:

Developer Responsibility Period: BDA will formally define a 1–2 year window during which it retains full maintenance responsibility after project handover, before transferring to an RWA.

Maintenance Charge Structure: BDA currently levies approximately 1% of the flat cost as a maintenance charge for newer projects. The policy evaluates three alternatives per-square-foot charges, uniform per-unit costs, and a hybrid model combining fixed and variable components.

RWA Transition Mechanism: A formal process will be created to hand over maintenance management to Resident Welfare Associations once the policy is in effect.

Why This Policy Is Being Introduced Now

The BDA's decision is partly driven by a Karnataka High Court directive requiring that resident associations be formed under the Cooperative Societies Act. However, the absence of a government order has stalled formal registrations, leaving BDA without legal authority to mandate RWA formation or transfer common areas. The new policy is designed to serve as an interim framework until the proposed Karnataka Apartment Act is formally notified.

A BDA official noted: the policy is being developed in consultation with resident groups and is intended to act as an interim framework until the proposed Apartment Act is notified, alongside a transition mechanism for handing over maintenance to RWAs.

Impact on BDA Apartment Residents in Bengaluru

For the thousands of residents living in BDA apartment complexes across Bengaluru, the new policy offers several tangible benefits:

Greater clarity on how much they pay and what services it covers

A defined handover timeline to their own elected RWA

Protection against arbitrary charge revisions

A legal framework for disputing maintenance grievances

Timeline and Next Steps

While no exact launch date has been confirmed, BDA officials indicate the policy is at an advanced consultation stage with resident groups. It is expected to be officially announced before the end of 2026, pending the Karnataka government's notification of the Apartment Act.

BDA's new maintenance policy standardizes apartment upkeep charges and defines the authority's 1–2 year responsibility period before transferring management to a Resident Welfare Association. It also evaluates per-square-foot and hybrid charge models, serving as an interim framework until the Karnataka Apartment Act is enacted.

BDA currently charges approximately 1% of the flat cost as a maintenance fee for newer projects. Under the proposed policy, BDA is evaluating alternatives including per-square-foot charges, a uniform per-unit fee, or a hybrid fixed-plus-variable model to create a more equitable and transparent structure.

Under the proposed policy, BDA plans to hand over apartment maintenance to Resident Welfare Associations after a 1–2 year developer responsibility period. However, the formal transition is contingent on the Karnataka government's notification of the Apartment Act and resolution of RWA registration status under the Cooperative Societies Act.

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