Maharashtra to Launch 60 Private Property Registration Centres: Pune and Mumbai to Lead

Pune: The Maharashtra government is set to introduce 60 private property registration centres across the state to enhance the registration process, improve efficiency, and reduce waiting times. This initiative, which will be implemented in phases, is expected to ease the burden on the existing 517 government-run sub-registrar offices. However, the new centres will come with an additional cost for users.

In the first phase, five centres will be established in Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Nagpur. These centres are expected to open within the next six months, with tenders currently being finalized to select the private institutions that will manage them. Abhay Mohite, Deputy Inspector General (IT) of the Registration Department, stated, “We expect to open these centres in the next six months. The private agency will provide infrastructure and support staff, while government officials will continue to carry out the actual registration process.”

The private centres are anticipated to charge an additional service fee of up to Rs 6,000 per document, on top of the existing government registration charges. “The agency has been asked to cap the facility charge at Rs 6,000. The final fee structure will be notified after the implementing agency is appointed,” Mohite added.

The second phase, likely within nine months of the first rollout, will see the establishment of 25 more centres in Mumbai suburban, Pune, Thane, Nashik, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The remaining 30 offices will be set up in other districts in the third phase. These centres will primarily be located in districts with high volumes of property registrations.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule had announced in September last year that the new centres would offer improved amenities and streamlined services similar to passport offices. However, the proposal has faced criticism from citizen groups and activists, particularly in Pune, who question the need for private centres when existing government offices lack basic infrastructure.

Activist S Joshi pointed out that most sub-registrar offices do not have drinking water, adequate seating, or functional toilets. “The government should first fix the basics. A limited number of private centres may help in some cases, but additional charges for core services are unfair,” he said. Ketaki Mohite, who recently registered a property in Pune, echoed similar concerns. “Existing offices are cramped and poorly maintained. Upgrading current facilities should be the priority before roping in private operators,” she noted.

Industry representatives have also expressed caution. Sachin Shinghavi of the Association of Service Providers (Maharashtra) stated, “While private centres may benefit those willing to pay extra for convenience, the department must not neglect the larger population dependent on government-run facilities.”

Government officials contend that the plan is aimed at reducing crowding and improving service delivery in high-demand urban centres, while government staff will retain control over the core registration process. This initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize property registration services in Maharashtra and ensure a more efficient and user-friendly experience for citizens.