Property buyers and sellers in Maharashtra are likely to benefit from expedited registrations and enhanced facilities, as the state registration department is set to introduce 60 privately operated registration centers beginning this July. Inspired by the “passport seva kendra” model, these centers are designed to simplify the registration process, although this will incur an additional cost for citizens.
These new centers will function alongside the existing 517 government-operated registration offices. The initiative, which was first revealed last year by the revenue department, will be executed in three phases. The initial phase will launch five centers in high-traffic districts, including Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Nagpur.
“The selected private firm possesses the requisite expertise to oversee these facilities,” stated Abhay Mohite, deputy inspector general (IT). “While the firm will supply the infrastructure and support personnel, the legal aspects of the process — the actual registration — will continue to be managed by state government employees, specifically one sub-registrar and one clerk at each center.” Although the centers promise a more pleasant experience, this convenience comes with a “processing charge” of up to Rs5,217 per document.
Officials defended the fee by emphasizing the improved infrastructure, which includes refreshments and on-site printing of Index 2 and summary statements. The second phase will see the addition of 25 more centers across Mumbai suburban, Pune, Thane, Nashik, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar within a nine-month timeframe.
The final 30 centers will be established in other districts during the third phase. This initiative follows a directive from revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule last September, aimed at enhancing the professionalism of the registration experience. Officials have indicated that while the private agency will provide support staff and manage the facilities, the state will retain complete regulatory oversight.
Despite the anticipated efficiency, this initiative has faced significant backlash from community organizations. Activists have highlighted that the state possesses over 500 offices, many of which are in poor condition. Detractors contended that the Rs10 crore allocated for the renovation of 100 government offices should have been prioritized over establishing a premium service tier. “Most sub-registrar offices lack essential amenities such as drinking water, sufficient seating, and operational toilets,” stated activist Shrinivas Joshi.
“The government should address these fundamental issues. It is unjust to impose additional charges for essential services when the current infrastructure is so lacking.”, Manisha Mohite, a resident of Pune who recently registered a property, characterized the existing offices as “cramped and unusable.” She asserted that enhancing the current facilities should take precedence over involving private operators.
Sachin Shinghavi, representing the Association of Service Providers (Maharashtra), remarked that while the corporate model may serve those who can afford the premium, the department must not overlook the needs of the general populace. “The department may aspire to adopt a corporate strategy, but they must concurrently invest in the existing offices, as the majority of individuals will continue to depend on them,” Shinghavi emphasized.
