Chandigarh selected for pilot phase of Naksha project to digitise urban land records

                Chandigarh: Chandigarh has been selected as one of the 152 urban local bodies (ULBs) across 26 states and three union territories participating in the pilot phase of the 
‘Naksha' 
project. The coverage area in Chandigarh includes five villages — Sarangpur, Burail, Kajheri, Palsora, and Attawa — and Sectors 2 to 17 (excluding Sector 13), 
encompassing a total 
area of 30.61 square kilometres with a population of 1.48 lakh.The need for the ‘Naksha' project arises from longstanding challenges such as inadequate maintenance of 
urban land 
records, rapid urbanisation, the increasing economic value of land, frequent ownership disputes, hurdles in infrastructure development, difficulties in property transactions 
and credit 
accessibility, and the lack of transparency, accessibility, and accuracy in existing land information systems.To address these concerns, the ‘Naksha' project aims to digitise 
and 
modernise urban land records, thereby promoting transparency, enhancing administrative efficiency, and driving economic growth.Expected outcomes of the project include 
the 
creation of accurate and up-to-date digital urban land records, reduction in land disputes through improved legal clarity, more efficient urban planning, financial 
strengthening of ULBs, 
simplified property transactions, improved credit facilitation, and enhanced public trust in governance.

The initiative also aims to curb corruption and fraud, thus fostering an environment conducive to real estate and infrastructure investment and boosting the overall ease of 
doing 
business.The Deputy Commissioner, Chandigarh, was appointed as the nodal officer for the pilot implementation of the ‘Naksha' project. In support of the initiative, a state 
project 
management unit (SPMU) was established, and 20 dedicated field survey teams were deployed. Recognising the importance of information, education, and communication 
(IEC) in 
today's digital age, official social media accounts were created on platforms including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for all five villages and the 
covered sectors 
in Chandigarh to disseminate information and engage with the public effectively.The department of land resources (DoLR), ministry of rural development, Govt of India, 
launched the 
National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (Naksha) as a flagship initiative under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme 
(DILRMP). 
This transformative project aims to modernise and streamline the creation and management of urban land records across the country.The ‘Naksha' initiative endeavours to 
establish a 
comprehensive and precise geospatial database for urban land records. Leveraging a combination of aerial imagery, field surveys, and cutting-edge Geographic Information 
System 
(GIS) technologies, the programme is poised to enhance the efficiency of urban land governance, ensure accurate documentation of property ownership, and support 
integrated urban 
planning. The availability of precise geospatial data is expected to lead to better decision-making, optimal land use, and seamless property transactions.


Source: Times of India