Maharashtra's government has identified 10 cities, including Baramati, Pandharpur, and Bhusawal, for a pilot project under the Centre's Rupees 50 billion urban land records digitization initiative. The move aims to establish a comprehensive record of property rights, replacing the current reliance on property tax and sale deed documents. Urban areas lack a record of rights and depend solely on sale deeds. The new system will provide clear property details, accessible through a dedicated city survey portal, said Rajendra Gole, Deputy Director of Land Records. Drone Surveys Begin in December Drone surveys for the project are set to commence at the end of December, with implementation starting in February 2025. Maharashtra will initially receive Rupees 50 million for the program. “This initiative will resolve overlapping ownership claims, inconsistent land valuations, and boundary disputes by creating spatially enabled land records,” Gole explained. The pilot program will later expand to 400 cities across Maharashtra. Cities Covered Under Pilot The selected cities include Baramati, Pandharpur, Murtijapur, Buldhana, Rahata, Bhusawal, Ambernath, Khalapur, Kannad, and Chandrapur. The project aligns with the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations, which aims to digitize records for 4,900 cities nationwide within five years. Transparency and Disaster Management Officials noted the initiative would enhance transparency, preventing fraudulent property transactions. It will also streamline civic bodies' land-use planning and aid disaster management by accurately identifying flood-prone areas. Accurate aerial photography with GPS coordinates will be a cornerstone of the project. This will accelerate surveys for property tax assessments, improve urban drainage and transport planning, and support master plans for urban areas, a land survey official stated. This digitization is expected to be a game-changer for urban governance, setting a new standard for transparency and efficiency in property management.