Hundreds of families residing in a Bangalore Development Authority (BDA)-constructed apartment complex at Gunjur in Mahadevapura Assembly Constituency have been left shocked and confused after receiving a sudden notice directing them to form a Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) within just one week. The directive has triggered widespread concern due to incomplete construction, pending infrastructure works, and lack of clarity on legal registration procedures.
According to the notice dated December 23, 2025, the BDA informed residents that it would stop maintaining the residential complex from January 1, 2026. Residents were instructed to intimate the Assistant Executive Engineer (Housing) by December 28, 2025, detailing the steps taken towards formation of an RWA.
Residents say the timeline is unrealistic and arbitrary, especially when several essential facilities within the complex remain incomplete or non-functional.
Incomplete Construction and Basic Amenities in Disarray
Residents pointed out that construction of several flats is still unfinished, while key infrastructure such as the compound wall, sewage treatment plant (STP), and power backup systems remains incomplete or dysfunctional. The STP is reportedly non-operational, and a diesel generator procured by BDA has remained unused for nearly five years.
“There is an ongoing dispute involving two acres of land, and authorities have failed to resolve it. On top of this, the lifts in several blocks have stopped functioning since December 4,” said Narayana Shetty, a resident. He added that residents are planning to meet BDA officials to seek immediate intervention.
Lift Failures Pose Serious Safety and Accessibility Concerns
One of the most pressing issues raised by residents is the failure of multiple lifts, allegedly due to non-renewal of Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC) and pending payments by BDA to the maintenance agency.
Rohith H, a resident living on the seventh floor, said his family has been severely affected. “We have been forced to use the stairs for over a month. My father underwent surgery a few years ago and cannot climb down. The lift being defunct has made daily life extremely difficult,” he said.
Long-Standing Issues Highlighted Earlier
The issues at the Gunjur complex are not new. In October 2022, Bangalore Mirror had published a report titled ‘Home is where the hurt is’, highlighting residents’ struggles with poor maintenance, irregular water supply, power issues, and lack of basic amenities. Residents say little has changed since then.
No Clear Guidelines for RWA Registration
Adding to the confusion is the absence of clear government guidelines on registering apartment owners’ associations. Karnataka Home Buyers Forum Convenor Dhananjaya Padmanabhachar criticised the BDA’s move, calling it premature and legally unclear.
“Neither the State Government nor the Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority (K-RERA) has notified rules on how apartment owners’ associations should be registered or which authority is empowered to do so,” he said. “Issuing such notices without regulatory clarity is absurd. The BDA Commissioner must first seek directions from the government and ensure compliance with RERA norms.”
Residents Seek Accountability Before Responsibility Transfer
Residents argue that forming an RWA is not opposed in principle, but it must come after completion of construction, rectification of defects, and handover of functional amenities. They insist that maintenance responsibilities cannot be shifted while basic infrastructure remains unfinished and unsafe.
The BDA’s directive to form an RWA within a week, coupled with withdrawing maintenance, has exposed systemic gaps in governance, accountability, and regulatory clarity. Until clear registration guidelines, completion of pending works, and restoration of essential services are ensured, residents fear they are being forced to shoulder responsibilities without authority or support.
