Latest news with #ArvindBellad
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Karnataka Cabinet clears 1% fire cess on new multi-storey buildings in what builders impact property pricing
The State Cabinet on Thursday decided to levy a 1% fire cess on new multi-storey buildings coming up in Bengaluru and rest of Karnataka in what the builders see having marginal impact on their initial investment of upcoming projects. The Cabinet decided to amend the Fire Force Act, 1964, to pave the way for the levy of 1% fire cell along with the property tax on the new multi-storey structures. The cess, the government said, will help the efficiency of the Fire Force department. The proposed cess has sparked concern among Bengaluru's real estate developers. Builders argue that the additional levy adds to an already rising cost burden, driven by soaring construction expenses and multiple taxes. Deputy leader of Opposition Arvind Bellad (BJP) slammed the proposed cess. "After increasing Metro fares, bus tickets, milk prices, they have now imposed a 1% cess on all high-rise buildings — including apartments, schools, hospitals, and offices. How much more do they expect us to pay? Instead of fixing mismanagement or curbing corruption, they are squeezing honest, tax-paying citizens even more. This isn't governance — it's exploitation. And it is always the middle class and working families who suffer," he said in a post on X. The new cess, aimed at boosting fire safety infrastructure, is likely to be passed on to homebuyers, pushing property prices higher. Industry stakeholders warn that such recurring cost inflations may dampen demand and hurt the ongoing and upcoming projects. 'The state government is grappling with revenue issues and hence burdening one of the largest sectors in the city. There is no clarity on what this cess is and why it was rolled out,' said CMD of a real estate firm that has large residential and commercial developments. Targeted at high-rise buildings, the cess aims to strengthen fire safety infrastructure and emergency response capabilities across Karnataka's rapidly urbanizing cities, particularly Bengaluru. While the policy is driven by public safety concerns, it introduces a fresh financial layer to the already cost-intensive process of real estate development. Bengaluru's developers are raising red flags over the timing and potential financial strain this cess could impose. The city's real estate market is already coping with soaring material costs, delayed project approvals, and funding challenges 'The Fire Cess is seen as another blow to developers' bottom lines, especially for large-scale projects. In the absence of subsidies or incentives to offset the additional burden, the added cost is likely to be passed on to end-users—pushing property prices further upward in a market that's already grappling with affordability issues,' said managing director of a large real estate development firm. There is, however, scant clarity on how the government planned to levy the cess under the proposed amendment: whether it is going to be like construction workers welfare cess or like solid waste management cess that is built into the property taxes. Industry insiders estimate that a 1% cess on the assessed future property tax for upcoming properties, for instance, levy of such taxes on a 1 million sq. ft. residential project could run into close Rs 1 crore. With developers under pressure to maintain margins and meet regulatory compliance, many fear this move could disrupt ongoing and upcoming projects, slow down new launches, and temper buyer sentiment. As the government gears up to roll out the cess, the real estate community is calling for clearer guidelines, phased implementation, and greater transparency in fund utilisation to ensure the policy improves safety without derailing growth. 'This sudden introduction of Fire Cess, without industry consultation or clarity on the implementation mechanism, could disrupt ongoing and upcoming projects. We urge the government to adopt a phased approach and ensure transparency in how the funds collected will be utilised,' said chairman of a real estate development company from Bangalore. According to industry insiders, the cess will be applicable to new constructions and linked to licensing processes, with the state reserving the right to revise rates periodically. Although it aligns with broader disaster preparedness goals, stakeholders caution that, without proper planning, it risks becoming yet another bureaucratic burden. Bangalore's real estate sector, which has seen robust growth and rising institutional interest, now awaits detailed guidelines. Developers and investors are watching closely to evaluate how this policy may impact project viability and urban housing dynamics in the months ahead.
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Bellad urges Centre to deploy e-buses in North Karnataka
Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Arvind Bellad has urged the Union government to deploy e-buses in North Karnataka towns and cities. He told reporters in Dharwad that he has written a letter to Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to allot electric buses to North Karnataka cities. 'Mr. Kumaraswamy is leading the PM e-Drive initiative aimed at promoting sustainable and clean public transport across the country. It is a welcome move. He has allotted over 4,500 e-buses to Bengaluru. This is a commendable step towards enhancing green mobility and reducing urban pollution. However, we need such eco-friendly vehicles for the fast-growing towns and cities of North Karnataka,' he said. 'Mr. Kumaraswamy should consider allocating a proportionate number of e-buses to districts of North Karnataka. We need urgent improvement of public transport infrastructure. Cities like Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Ballari and Vijayapura are growing fast and demand green mobility. Allocating e-buses will greatly benefit both from environmental and socio-economic standpoint,' he said. 'These cities have basic transport infrastructure like KSRTC depots and the BRTS corridor. They are all ready for a quick and efficient e-bus rollout. The deployment will not only address the widening regional imbalance in State-level infrastructure allocation but will also contribute to reducing vehicular emissions in rapidly growing urban centres,' he said. Such a move will generate local employment, strengthen the EV ecosystem in under-served areas and support broader objectives of the PM e-Drive and National Clean Air programme, he said.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Bellad seeks electric buses under PM's e-Drive scheme to North Karnataka cities
Deputy leader of Opposition in the assembly Arvind Bellad (BJP) has written to Union Heavy Industries Minister HD Kumaraswamy urging him to allocate electric buses under the PM's e-Drive scheme to North Karnataka cities like Hubballi-Dharwad , Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Ballari and Vijayapura. While Bengaluru has rightly received 4,500 e-buses, other regions also deserve attention. These cities have growing transport needs, existing KSRTC infrastructure, and in some cases BRT systems—making them ready for an efficient e-bus rollout, Bellad, who represents Hubballi-Dharwad West in the assembly, has said in his letter. Such a move will reduce regional disparities, curb emissions, create local jobs, and boost the EV ecosystem in underserved areas. A more balanced approach to green mobility will ensure true inclusive development across Karnataka, the BJP leader has said. Kumaraswamy had, in May, announced that Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Surat cities will get 10,900 brand new electric buses under the PM's e-Drive Scheme over the next two years. The PM e-Drive initiative aims to deploy 14,028 electric buses with a total financial outlay of Rs 10,900 crore over a two-year period from April 2024 to March 2026. The scheme represents one of the world's largest national efforts to electrify public transport at scale.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Bellad seeks electric buses under PM's e-Drive scheme to North Karnataka cities
(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Deputy leader of Opposition in the assembly Arvind Bellad (BJP) has written to Union Heavy Industries Minister HD Kumaraswamy urging him to allocate electric buses under the PM's e-Drive scheme to North Karnataka cities like Hubballi-Dharwad , Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Ballari and Bengaluru has rightly received 4,500 e-buses, other regions also deserve attention. These cities have growing transport needs, existing KSRTC infrastructure, and in some cases BRT systems—making them ready for an efficient e-bus rollout, Bellad, who represents Hubballi-Dharwad West in the assembly, has said in his letter. Such a move will reduce regional disparities, curb emissions, create local jobs, and boost the EV ecosystem in underserved areas. A more balanced approach to green mobility will ensure true inclusive development across Karnataka, the BJP leader has had, in May, announced that Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Surat cities will get 10,900 brand new electric buses under the PM's e-Drive Scheme over the next two PM e-Drive initiative aims to deploy 14,028 electric buses with a total financial outlay of Rs 10,900 crore over a two-year period from April 2024 to March 2026. The scheme represents one of the world's largest national efforts to electrify public transport at scale.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
There are no foreign nationals in twin cities, Police Commissioner clarifies
Close on the heels of Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Arvind Bellad accusing the police of neglecting his complaint on movement of foreign nationals in the twin cities, Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar has clarified that thorough verification has revealed that those suspected to be foreign nationals are actually residents of Surat in Gujarat. He has said that based on the complaint, the police visited Bilal mosque at Jannat Nagar and Yousufia Mosque at Arogya Nagar in Dharwad and conducted thorough verification. 'All their documents, including Aadhaar and others, have been thoroughly checked and none of them are foreign nationals. The inquiry has revealed that a team of 21 members has come from Surat in Gujarat to Dharwad for a religious training programme,' he said. Along with the police inquiry team, municipal zonal officer Shankar Patil and Dharwad Tahsildar Doddappa Hugar too visited the two mosques for verification. This apart, the officials visited a few other mosques in the twin cities to get information on inmates and it has been confirmed that none of them are from other nations, he said. The Police Commissioner clarified that participating in religious training programmes conducted in various States is a routine process. The police are collecting information on the visitors and there is no need to panic, he said. On Mr. Bellad's demand for thorough inquiry into the purchase of multiple SIM cards by individuals, he has said that the issue is being looked into and that information has been sought from mobile service providers, agents and retail sellers. 'As it is a sensitive issue, the MLA will be given information after thorough verification and inquiry,' he said. The Police Commissioner has also appealed to the general public to alert the police on suspicious movement of people in the twin cities.
