Maharashtra's ambitious "One State, One Registration" scheme, which was initially slated for a May 1 launch, has been delayed by three to four months due to technical challenges. The scheme, designed to streamline the property registration process, will now likely be rolled out in phases across districts, with a formal notification expected soon.

Focus on System Reliability Over Speed

The initiative, which aims to simplify the property registration process by allowing citizens to complete transactions at any sub-registrar office in the state, regardless of the property's location, will be delayed as officials prioritise ensuring the system’s reliability. The revenue department, working in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre, is currently mapping all 519 sub-registrar offices across Maharashtra to ensure smooth implementation.

Despite the original plan for a statewide launch, it is now expected that the scheme will be introduced district by district. The delay comes after technical issues with the existing updated rental agreement software, which has been facing glitches, raised concerns. Citizen activists have called for the technical aspects to be fully addressed before the scheme's statewide rollout.

Pilot Project and Phase-wise Launch

While the statewide launch has been delayed, the pilot project for the scheme, covering 32 sub-registrar offices in Mumbai city and suburban areas, has received positive feedback. Pune and Thane districts were initially scheduled to join the program on April 1. However, now the phased rollout will focus on ensuring that all technical aspects are handled properly before the expansion to these districts.

Officials from the revenue department have identified 49 sub-registrar offices in Pune and 27 in Thane for inclusion in the scheme, which would allow Pune residents to register properties in locations like Maval or Baramati without the need to travel to those areas.

Future Outlook

Although the statewide implementation will take longer than expected, the initiative’s eventual rollout is set to simplify the property registration process for Maharashtra’s residents, offering significant convenience. Once fully implemented, the scheme will allow people, for example, a Mumbai resident, to complete a sale deed for a property in Pune without having to travel to the city, bringing the system closer to the residents' needs.

As the state focuses on addressing these technical challenges, it remains to be seen when the scheme will be fully operational, but the delay has highlighted the government's commitment to ensuring a seamless and efficient system for the public.