New Delhi: Aiming to modernise land records and make plots digitally accountable, Delhi govt has launched Bhu Aadhaar, an initiative under which every land parcel in the city will be assigned a 14-digit Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN), effectively creating an ‘Aadhaar' for property ownership.
Announcing the initiative on Sunday, chief minister Rekha Gupta said safeguarding property rights is the central theme of the initiative. "Bhu-Aadhaar' is not merely a number. It is a powerful digital instrument against corruption and land disputes. Many families invest their lifetime savings in land but often face legal complications due to unclear records," CM said, adding it will enhance transparency and reduce disputes.
"The need to implement this system in Delhi has been felt for long. Though the Centre introduced the scheme nationally in 2016 through its ministries of rural development and department of land resources, it could not be implemented in Delhi because of various reasons. It is now being taken up in mission mode," Gupta said.
A pilot was already completed in Tilangpur Kotla village in West Delhi district, where 274 ULPIN records were generated. The exercise helped validate the technological framework and accuracy of data before its citywide expansion, a govt official said.
Each land parcel is assigned a permanent, unique alphanumeric identity based on its precise longitude and latitude coordinates. By linking textual land records with geo-referenced maps, the system enables accurate verification of ownership, size of a plot and location. It is expected to streamline property transactions, reduce the risk of fraud and multiple registrations, and address long-pending boundary conflicts.
The system is now in place in 29 states and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
For citizens, the reform promises greater clarity and convenience. Instead of having to depend on multiple documents to establish title, a single ULPIN will provide comprehensive digital details of a property. The system is also expected to support fair property taxation, faster approval of loan and improved disaster planning because of accurate mapping of land ownership. In addition, it will help identify beneficiaries of schemes based on landholding size and facilitate the creation of organised land banks.
The responsibility for its implementation has been entrusted to the IT branch of the revenue department, which will also receive support from Survey of India.
The project will use advanced geospatial technology. "Each parcel will be georeferenced to enable seamless coordination of land data across departments. Around two terabytes of high-resolution geospatial data, including drone-based ortho-rectified images, are being used to prepare an accurate digital land map of the city," the official said.
Alok K N Mishra is a New Delhi–based journalist with The Times of...
Read MoreAlok K N Mishra is a New Delhi–based journalist with The Times of India. He has a deep interest in politics and in exploring how governance can be made to work better for the middle class and the poor. He also enjoys analyzing and predicting national political trends.
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