Bengaluru’s Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has played a key role in housing the city for decades. Earlier, sites had to be built on within ten years before owners could fully sell them. But around 2000, the system changed. BDA started giving full ownership early, allowing owners to sell land without building houses first. This shifted the focus from building homes to treating plots as investment assets. Experts say this led to many BDA layouts with vacant plots. For example, Vishweshwaraiah Layout has many fenced, empty sites without any houses. Arkavathi and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layouts show similar trends, despite lower plot prices aimed at encouraging building. The BDA estimates nearly 100,000 sites across its layouts remain unused. To fight this, it has proposed a one-time fine on owners who don’t build homes within three years. Experts note this penalty system highlights the drift from the BDA’s original housing goal. Urban specialist Ashwin Mahesh explains that much of Bengaluru’s housing was not built on BDA land. The authority acts more as a land allocator than a home provider now. Delays in infrastructure like water, drainage, and roads also slow construction, making holding land more attractive as its value rises. For many middle-class families, planned layouts have not turned into livable neighborhoods. Without aligning ownership rules, building duties, and infrastructure with housing needs, land meant for homes will likely stay empty in Bengaluru.