The Maharashtra government has launched a novel urban land records digitization project, starting with 10 pilot cities, including Baramati and Chandrapur. The initiative aims to address urban land documentation challenges by creating detailed, GPS-enabled digital property records through drone surveys. Starting in December, the project will roll out fully by February 2025 under the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey framework. With plans to digitize 4,900 cities nationwide in five years, Maharashtra will expand this model to 400 cities, transforming urban land management and setting a benchmark for other states.
The Maharashtra government has initiated a new urban land records digitization project, selecting 10 pilot cities to transform property documentation and management. This innovative INR 5,000-crore initiative aims to address long-standing challenges in urban land record keeping by creating comprehensive, spatially enabled digital records.
Urban areas in Maharashtra lack precise property rights documentation, relying primarily on property tax records and sale deed documents. The new system will establish a dedicated portal providing clear, detailed property information with unprecedented accuracy.
The selected pilot cities include Baramati, Pandharpur, Murtijapur, Buldhana, Rahata, Bhusawal, Ambernath, Khalapur, Kannad, and Chandrapur. These locations will be part of the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NGKSLUH). The project will commence with drone surveys scheduled to begin in late December, with full implementation starting in February 2025.
Central government officials have outlined an ambitious plan to expand the project nationwide. While 100 cities are being covered in the current phase, the ultimate goal is to complete the digital land survey in 4,900 cities over the next five years.
The initial phase will see the state receiving INR 5 crore to kickstart the initiative. The comprehensive approach involves aerial photography with precise GPS coordinates, creating a robust and transparent land record system. This methodology will provide multiple benefits beyond property documentation. Civic bodies can eliminate redundant land use surveys, as the data will be readily available through the City Survey Inquiry System.
Additionally, the project will support critical infrastructure planning, including improved property tax assessment, enhanced transport system planning, more effective drainage and flood management, better preparation of urban master plans, and disaster management support through precise geographical identification.
The initiative addresses a significant gap in urban land management by creating comprehensive 7/12 extracts for urban and peri-urban areas, particularly in census towns. By uploading all records to a dedicated city survey portal, the project ensures complete transparency and aims to prevent fictitious property sales. After the pilot phase, the Maharashtra government plans to expand the project to 400 more cities, signalling a transformative approach to urban land record management that could potentially serve as a model for other states across India.
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