The Maharashtra government has introduced the Vertical Property Card scheme, a new initiative aimed at providing individual ownership records for flat and commercial unit owners in cities such as Mumbai, Pune and Thane. The move is expected to strengthen property ownership documentation and simplify real estate transactions across the state.
Under the existing system, official land records generally recognise only the builder, landowner or housing society as the owner of a property. The new framework will record the names of individual flat and commercial unit owners in government land records, giving each unit a distinct, government-recognised identity.
According to the scheme, every property card will include details such as the owner’s name, floor number, carpet area and the owner’s proportionate share in the underlying land. The document will serve as a digitally authenticated proof of ownership, offering stronger legal recognition for individual property owners.
The initiative is expected to particularly benefit residents of high-rise developments in cities like Mumbai, Pune and Thane, where individual apartments have traditionally not been directly linked to official land records. Until now, ownership has primarily been established through sale agreements, housing society records and share certificates.
The government has fixed a nominal fee of ₹500 for obtaining the digitally authenticated property card. The reform is expected to streamline property transactions, resales, home loan approvals and redevelopment processes by providing a clear and standardised ownership record.
The Vertical Property Card system is also expected to improve transparency in Maharashtra’s urban real estate sector by reducing the risk of property-related fraud, including duplicate sales and multiple loans being secured against the same property. The cards will incorporate digital authentication features, including QR code-based verification, making ownership records easier to verify and more secure.
Housing societies undertaking redevelopment projects are also likely to benefit from the initiative. Ownership disputes relating to carpet area, land share and individual rights often delay redevelopment proposals. With each flat having a separate government-recognised record, authorities expect redevelopment processes to become more transparent, efficient and less dependent on fragmented documentation.
The initiative marks a significant step towards modernising Maharashtra’s urban land records and strengthening legal ownership rights for apartment and commercial unit owners across the state.
Source: NDTV Profit
