BENGALURU: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has initiated a repeat e-auction process for 76 corner sites after its initial auction, held a fortnight ago, was disrupted due to a technical glitch. The BDA is optimistic about generating over ₹100 crore from this auction.
The first phase of the auction, conducted on September 9 and 10, saw prime corner sites in prominent localities such as Banashankari VI Stage, RMV II Stage, HRBR Layout, and HSR Layout go under the hammer. However, a technical issue caused the bidding platform to crash just 30 minutes before the auction's scheduled close at 5 PM. Given that the final minutes are crucial for pushing bids higher, this disruption sparked frustration among bidders. Over 50 complaints were lodged via email at the BDA's head office in Palace Guttahalli.
In response to the complaints, the BDA sought and obtained permission to conduct a re-auction. The new e-auction is being held over two days, from 9 AM on Tuesday, September 17, to 5 PM on Wednesday, September 18, on the BDA's e-governance portal.
A senior BDA official explained, "We couldn't proceed with the re-bid immediately due to procedural requirements, but we've now resumed the auction process."
Meanwhile, a crackdown on brokers and touts at the BDA office has added to the buzz surrounding the auction. BDA Commissioner N Jayaram ordered a probe after noticing suspicious activity in the office on Tuesday. Sixteen individuals, suspected of being touts, were detained for questioning, and their mobile phones were confiscated by the BDA Task Force.
Task Force SP K Nanjundegowda commented, "Some of these individuals claimed they were handling file-related matters, but a few were identified as brokers. Their phones have been seized for investigation, and we will return them tomorrow after further inquiry."
One of the detained individuals expressed frustration, stating, "I am a businessman and had come to check on my site, but now they’ve taken my phone and are questioning me."
With the re-auction now live, the BDA hopes to see a smooth conclusion to the process and secure significant revenue from these prime real estate assets.