Over four lakh property owners in Bengaluru were given digitized and georeferenced property cards with a unique land property identification number under the Urban Property Ownership Records (UPOR) project till mid-April.
The UPOR cards issued by the revenue department card contain all the details related to the property. The project aims to issue property cards for all 25 lakh properties located in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits. The UPOR project is being implemented by staff at Survey Settlement and Land Records (SSLR).
An SSLR officer said the project was started in 2022. The boundaries are identified using images captured through drone survey. The survey has been completed in 158 of the erstwhile 198 wards, and the same will be done in remaining 40 wards in the next few months. SSLR collected property data from BBMP and the drone survey was completed for around 15 lakh properties.
The UPOR project team sends a notice to property owners soon after the drone survey to inform them about a surveyor visiting to measure the property. The owners have to show the boundaries of their property and present certain documents such as sale deed, tax payment receipt, encumbrance certificate, copy of BBMP khata/RTC, allotment letter, possession certificate, alienation order copy, copy of approved layout plan, owner’s photograph, and property picture.
The SSLR officials then prepare a draft UPOR card for each property soon after document verification. The owner must verify the draft and seek changes or alterations, if any, by furnishing supporting documents. The owner will get the property card within 30 days of document verification.
UPOR is different from e-khata, a digital form of property khata. The authorities maintain khata only for collection of tax on property. Having e-khata does not translate into authentic ownership of property. But the UPOR card helps people claim genuine ownership of the property.
So, this card is helpful at the time of selling and purchasing property, as sub-registrars will ask for it for authentication. It will be necessary to take a loan from the bank on property. Local authorities will ask for the card to give permission to construct or modify the building. It will be needed while applying for partition or inheritance claims in court. The owners are also eligible to use this card as surety on behalf of someone to police or in court.
The card will contain details of the property number and its area, georeference map which covers four corners of the property, ownership details, including the history of all ownership from mother deed to present owner, details of existing loans, and rights or restrictions on the property.
