Karnataka govt excludes stilt floors from building height calculation to promote in-premise parking
Bengaluru: In a bid to promote parking within private premises, the Karnataka government has issued a significant amendment to its building regulations, excluding stilt floors used for parking from the overall calculation of a building’s height.
As per a recent government notification, cited by Deccan Herald on Monday, the maximum permissible height for stilt floors has been capped at 3 metres, replacing an earlier proposal of 4.5 metres. The initial draft was revised following public feedback over concerns of potential misuse for commercial purposes.
Previously, the permissible stilt floor height was limited to 2.4 metres—considered insufficient by many, particularly due to frequent damage by vehicles to water and sanitary pipelines affixed to the ceilings. The new rules apply to properties falling within the jurisdiction of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), and are part of a broader set of revisions related to building height, stilt floor usage, and setback norms.
One of the key takeaways from the notification is that the stilt floor (measured from floor to floor) will now be excluded from the building’s height limit, allowing developers to construct stilt (ground) plus four floors, while still adhering to the existing 15-metre cap on building height.
Advocate Suhas Ananth Rajkumar flagged a possible inconsistency in the regulation. “One clause caps the building height at 15 metres, while another excludes the stilt floor from this calculation. This could be interpreted as permitting stilt plus five floors, resulting in a total height of up to 18 metres. If this isn’t the government’s intention, it must issue a clarification," DH quoted him as saying.
To prevent misuse, particularly in a city like Bengaluru where enforcement remains a challenge, the notification has prescribed compliance conditions: stilt floors must be used solely for parking. In cases of violations, civic authorities have been empowered to deny water and electricity connections to residential buildings and revoke trade licenses for establishments.
Speaking on the rationale behind the decision, Tushar Girinath, Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, said the changes are designed to discourage parking of vehicles on roads. "We have exempted the stilt floor from total height calculation to make it attractive for the property owners to create parking space within his or her compound. The earlier proposal for a 4.5-metre stilt was dropped as many raised concerns about potential misuse,” DH quoted Girinath as saying.
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Smriti Mandhana named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year for 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Star batter Smriti Mandhana, who played a pivotal role in India's historic 2025 Women's World Cup triumph, was named the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year for 2025 at a glittering function here on Monday.
Chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh won the Emerging Player of the Year award, for her historic FIDE Women's World Cup triumph at just 20.
Preethi Pal was named the Para-Sportswoman of the Year, for winning two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in track and field, while Anjali Bhagwat was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her pioneering career as India's first woman shooter to reach an Olympic final and her trailblazing success on the world stage.
Mandhana, who is currently touring Australia with the Indian team for multi-format bilateral assignments, said in a video message: "Thank you BBC for giving me the awardfor Best Sportswoman of the Year. 2025 was a special year for women's cricket, especiallytowards the end we had a World Cup and I'm happy I could contribute and help India win matches.".
At 29, the left-handed batter is already among the game's greats, with the second-highest number of centuries in women's One Day Internationals and ranking third in total runsscored among current players worldwide.
Hailing from Sangli city in Maharashtra, the affable Mandhana was inspired by her father and brother, both of whom played cricket at the district level.
In September last year, she made a 50-ball hundred against Australia – the fastest 50 over international ton (men and women) by an Indian in the format, breaking Virat Kohli's record.
The award winners were decided by a distinguished grand jury comprising Leander Paes, Deepa Malik, and Anju Bobby George.
Praising the athletes' achievements CEO of BBC News, Jonathan Munro said: "Congratulations to this year's winners who showcase the very best in sporting excellence. The BBC World Service is committed to bringing such stories of human endeavour and outstanding success to audiences across India and around the world.".
Additionally, the ceremony also celebrated a wide spectrum of talent and impact, recognizing star performers and changemakers for redefining the landscape of Indian sport.
BBC Star Performers of the Year 202.
• Indian Women's Cricket Team: for their historic World Cup victory.
• Ekta Bhyan, Deepthi Jeevanji and Preethi Pal: for their trailblazing performances at the World Para Athletics Championship.
• Indian Women's Cricket Team for the Blind: for their inspiring World Cup victory.
• Indian Women's Kabaddi Team: for their smashing victory in World Cup.
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BBC Changemakers of the Year 202.
• Indian Women's Ice Hockey Team: for breaking barriers in a non-traditional sport.
• Rajbir Kaur: Indian field hockey player and former captain of the women’s national team.
• Savita Punia: Indian field hockey player and current member of the national team.
• Paani Devi: recognised for her impactful contribution to grassroots sport.
