Did You Receive BBMP's 'E-Katha' Message? Is It Fake Or Real? Here's The Truth Behind Viral Message

Property owners across Bengaluru have recently been receiving an SMS from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), informing them that BBMP staff would be visiting their properties in the coming days to capture GPS data. The message has caused confusion, with many doubting its authenticity, particularly in light of increasing digital scams and the absence of a prior official announcement from the civic body.

The Viral SMS

The SMS reads:

"Madam/Sir,
BBMP is creating eKhata for every property. The GPS of property is mandatory to get eKhata. BBMP staff will visit you in few days to capture your property GPS. Please keep a copy of your property tax receipt ready and cooperate with BBMP staff so that GPS is tagged correctly to your property. The Property GPS will be Bhu Aadhaar of the property and used as such.
Regards,
BBMP"

Despite initial concerns, the message is authentic. BBMP has already sent it to over one lakh property owners and plans to send it to all 20 lakh property owners in Bengaluru over the next three weeks as part of a new e-Khata issuance system.

BBMP Confirms the Initiative

BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath confirmed the legitimacy of the message, telling Bangalore Mirror, "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."

The initiative aims to streamline the process of obtaining e-Khata, making it easier for property owners to secure official documents for their properties without in-person interactions.

What is GPS Data for e-Khata?

The GPS data being collected is crucial for the issuance of e-Khata, serving as a unique identifier for each property. This information ensures accurate mapping of properties, which is key to BBMP's contactless, online system.

"We will request the tax receipt from each flat owner, and the same GPS data will be used. Additionally, we are launching a mobile app that allows citizens to input their coordinates directly," Moudgil said.

The GPS data, referred to as Bhu Aadhaar under a central government initiative, will function as a unique property identifier, akin to fingerprints for individuals.

Why is the GPS Tagging Exercise Important?

The Property GPS Capture Campaign by BBMP serves several purposes:

• It assigns GPS coordinates to each property, ensuring it is correctly mapped to prevent fraudulent claims.
• Once the GPS data is attached to a property, no one else can claim the same piece of land or property using different documents.
• Previously, BBMP had records of properties but lacked precise location details or maps. GPS tagging adds an extra layer of security and clarity to property ownership.
• In the case of multi-storey flats, where GPS coordinates are similar for different units, BBMP will use flat numbers and other details to uniquely identify each property.

This initiative forms the foundation for secure and accurate property and land records in Bengaluru, and residents are urged to cooperate with BBMP staff for successful implementation.