PUNE: Citizens will by end of April be able to register land or property documents at any sub-registrar office, regardless of property location, as the department is working on “one state, one registration” scheme announced by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis last week, said Ravindra Binwade, inspector general of registration and stamps, on Tuesday.
“A Mumbai resident need not travel to Pune to execute a sale deed for property. They can simply visit their local sub-registrar,” Binwade said, adding the move aims to decongest registration offices and cut down processing times.
The department of registration and stamps is racing against time to meet the CM’s 100-day deadline, upgrading both hardware and software. “We are collaborating with the National Informatics Centre to enhance our systems. All 519 sub-registrar offices across Maharashtra must be equipped to handle documents from anywhere,” Binwade said after chairing a meeting with officials to ensure that the timeline for the project is followed.
E-registration for first-sale properties by builders is already operational and the department plans to expand digital services to reduce footfall. “We are reviewing office utilisation patterns. Underperforming offices may face closure, while districts lacking adequate facilities will get new ones,” the IGR said.
Property experts have welcomed the move but sounded caution. “This will end the ordeal of travelling long distances and booking hotels. However, robust checks must be maintained,” a member of a real estate brokers’ association said.
The sentiment was echoed by Satara resident Meena Kaushik, who owns a property in Pune. “This will significantly reduce unnecessary crowding at offices.”
Binwade, who recently took over from previous IGR Hiralal Sonawane, said the department is scrutinising existing procedures and regulations. “Any necessary amendments will be made to ensure hassle-free process and eliminate corruption.”
The initiative aligns with the CM’s vision to implement faceless technology for simpler document registration, marking a significant step in the revenue department’s modernisation drive, another official said.
Ready reckoner rate discussions on, report by Feb-end
Senior registration officials on Tuesday said discussions on whether the ready reckoner rates need to be increased or decreased are under way at district levels with all stakeholders. The data will be submitted to IGR Ravindra Binwade by Feb-end who will then present a consolidated report to the state govt. The state had made changes to the ready reckoner rates last in 2022.
The final decision on whether to change the rates or maintain status quo rests with the state govt, sources from the registration department told TOI.
CREDAI governing council member Shantilal Kataria cautioned against rate revisions. “Like other sops they have announced they should also ensure that middle class does not get affected and continue to keep the rates stable even in the coming year. The market buoyancy should be kept in mind before making a knee jerk reaction,” he said.
The ready reckoner rates, which determine stamp duty and registration charges, vary based on location, infrastructure, amenities and area demand.
The review comes against the backdrop of the department recording Rs39,000 crore in revenue through 21 lakh document registrations until Dec 2024, while working toward an annual target of Rs55,000 crore. The state is yet to announce any revised target for the department, sources from the revenue department said.
Source Homevior.in
