In a relief to several residential areas across the city, the Bengaluru corporations will conduct a survey of commercial establishments in residential lanes that are flouting zonal rules.

The development follows a Supreme Court directive dated March 25, which directed all corporations in India to conduct a comprehensive inquiry to identify areas demarcated exclusively for residential use but being misused for non-residential purposes.

K.V. Rajendra and Pommala Sunil Kumar, Commissioners of the West City Corporation and North City Corporation, respectively, confirmed that they would take up the survey soon.

However, another source in the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) told The Hindu that they were yet to receive an official order. M. Maheshwar Rao, Chief Commissioner of GBA, said that SIR and Census works are currently ongoing, and that they would look into the matter soon.

While the corporations are awaiting official notice and see the development as an opportunity to increase revenue generation, citizens question how this will be different, as such violations are rampant in the city and the civic body has failed to enforce regulations. They pointed out that the civic body has neglected such violations and complaints from citizens for years.

Jurine Varghese, a resident of 16th Main, 4th Block, Koramangala, explained that her family wrote to the civic body four times about a private company employing over 25 people, located just opposite their house, but no action has been initiated. “After multiple complaints, a health inspector once inspected the establishment and served a notice on the company. After the notice was served, no follow-up action was initiated,” said Ms. Varghese. She pointed out that the company deals with electric vehicle batteries, which could have possible long-term health impacts as testing is carried out at the location. This is apart from traffic issues due to haphazard parking and noise pollution.

Her husband, Gilbert, explained that after the notice was served, the company owner went around the lane and obtained no-objection signatures from six people, including two of his associates. “The civic body’s stand is that the company has all clearances and licences to conduct business. However, it is a certificate from a different department and not from the civic body,” he said. “Irrespective of clearances, it is a rule that no commercial establishment shall come up on a road less than 40 feet wide. Still, the civic body refuses to take action,” he added.

However, Ms. Varghese’s concern is not an isolated incident. Corporation officials explained that in many cases, especially involving slightly larger businesses, such establishments receive support from local political leaders, resulting in compromise and inaction by civic bodies. Citizens, however, describe it as an open secret that civic body officials accept bribes and ignore enforcement, creating a win-win situation for both establishments and officials, while common citizens suffer.

Sujith Cariappa, a resident of HAL 2nd Stage, welcomed the Supreme Court directive, stating that all these years, RWAs or concerned citizens had to approach courts to address zonal violations instead of relying on the civic body to enforce regulations. He expressed hope that a comprehensive survey would now be conducted. “Look at all these play schools, salons, restaurants and cafes that have come up in residential layouts despite clear guidelines restricting them. Such violations lead to various issues, from traffic congestion to pollution, affecting the tranquillity of residential lanes,” he explained.

A senior official from the corporation expressed hope that they can now undertake a large-scale crackdown without facing political pressure. “With the Supreme Court order, we can confront them and work freely without influence. They do not interfere in such matters when orders come from the courts,” the official noted.