For most of its history since 1976, the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) focused on acquiring land, creating layouts, and allotting plots for housing. It left house construction to individual owners. This model shaped key Bengaluru areas like Banashankari and Yelahanka. But by the early 2000s, this approach showed limits. Population grew fast, apartments became popular, and land acquisition slowed due to legal issues and high costs. Criticism also grew that BDA was creating land value but not housing. To tackle this, BDA began building flats directly from the early 2010s. The goal was to offer ready-to-live apartments at lower prices than private builders and use land more efficiently. Kaniminike, off Mysuru Road, was one of the first big projects. However, it faced delays, poor road connectivity, and low demand. Despite lower prices, buyers stayed away due to lack of basic infrastructure. The BDA expanded this flat-building effort with projects across city outskirts like Kommaghatta and Nagarabhavi, building around 12,000 flats. Yet, about 3,000 units remain unsold years after completion. Most projects are far from jobs, schools, and hospitals. Key infrastructure like roads, drainage, and public transport lag, reducing flat appeal even at low prices. Water supply, mainly borewells or tankers instead of Cauvery water, is also a big problem. Residents who moved in face more troubles. N. Manjunath Swamy from Yelahanka said, “We moved in thinking that the basics would improve over time, but even now there is confusion about maintenance and common facilities. No one is clear about who is responsible once possession is given.” Flats often remain unsellable due to missing fire or electricity approvals. Delays in getting these approvals create uncertainty for buyers and BDA alike. Residents also report slow work on common amenities, unclear maintenance plans, and delays in forming resident welfare associations. Sahana Bhat noted, “Unlike private developers, who manage the transition to resident-led maintenance through structured handover processes, BDA’s post-possession mechanisms have lacked clarity, leaving many like us, dependent on the authority for extended periods.” As BDA marks 50 years, its experiment with flat building shows many hurdles still to clear for Bengaluru’s housing needs.