CHANDIGARH, May 27: The Union Territory administration has launched an ambitious initiative to digitise land records across the city under the Centre’s ‘Naksha’ (mapping) project. The effort, aimed at bringing greater transparency and integration in land management, will initially cover six urban villages and sectors 2 to 17.
Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, who chaired a review meeting on Monday, said, “We are creating a detailed, accurate land database by integrating GIS technology with aerial and ground surveys. The first phase is well underway.”
As part of the pilot project, drone mapping has already been completed in five villages—Sarangpur, Burail, Kajheri, Palsora, and Attawa—and 15 city sectors. Twenty field survey teams are now set to begin house-to-house surveys in the next phase of data collection.
The digitised records will serve as official documents and be linked with property tax systems, court case databases, and banking services. “Once digitised, every property will have a verifiable certificate, helping both residents and authorities streamline transactions and resolve disputes more efficiently,” DC Yadav said.
A total of 30.61 square kilometres, covering a population of 1,47,945, will be mapped under this first implementation phase. Land records currently scattered across various departments will be unified on a centralised, single-click digital platform.
The initiative addresses long-standing challenges posed by poor maintenance of urban land records, rapid urbanisation, frequent disputes, and opaque property transactions. To safeguard data integrity, the project will leverage blockchain technology for secure recordkeeping.
The administration has also set up a State Project Management Unit (SPMU) to oversee smooth execution, with DC Yadav designated as the nodal officer for Chandigarh.
Officials said the digital records will aid in planned development and policy decisions, while also ensuring financial inclusion and preventing fraudulent transactions.
