RABINARAYAN JENA, OP
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is planning to introduce smart property cards to modernise the state’s land and property registration system, replacing the existing land pass book system that has been in operation since 2006. The proposed initiative aims to establish a transparent, simplified, efficient and technology-driven digital system for maintaining property ownership records. The move is expected to reduce administrative complications and make property-related information easily accessible without requiring people to visit government offices repeatedly.
Under the initiative, property ownership records will be digitised and made paperless, enabling citizens to access details of their properties from the comfort of their homes. The system is also expected to make it easier for property owners, particularly those in rural areas, to secure bank loans by mortgaging their properties. The state government plans to introduce the smart property cards under the Centre’s SVAMITVA scheme, which aims to provide clear ownership records to people living in rural areas.
The cards are expected to receive special consideration from banks while processing loans against properties. To facilitate the implementation, the Revenue department has initiated the process of conducting drone-based surveys and introducing new rules. The state government is also planning to make necessary amendments to the existing legal framework to support the new system. A senior Finance Department official said the initiative would significantly benefit rural residents by helping them establish property ownership and access bank credit more easily.
The proposed reform is expected to strengthen property documentation, reduce land-related disputes and make the state’s property registration system more accessible, transparent and efficient. The land passbook system was initially introduced by the Odisha government in 2006 with the objective of providing land passbooks to people across all sections of society. The idea was to maintain a record of the land owned by an individual, similar to a bank passbook.