Pune: Property buyers and sellers in Maharashtra may soon experience faster registrations and improved amenities, as the state registration department prepares to roll out 60 privately operated registration centres starting this July.Modelled after the “passport seva kendra” system, these centres aim to streamline the process, albeit at an additional cost to citizens. These new hubs will operate alongside the state’s existing 517 govt-run registration offices.The project, first announced last year by the revenue department, will be implemented in three phases. The first phase will see five centers launched in high-volume districts, including Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Nagpur.“The appointed private firm has the necessary experience to manage these facilities,” said Abhay Mohite, deputy inspector general (IT). “While the firm provides the infrastructure and support staff, the legal core of the process — actual registration — will still be handled by state govt employees, specifically one sub-registrar and one clerk per centre.”While the centres promise a more comfortable experience, the convenience comes with a “processing charge” of up to Rs5,217 per document. Officials justified the fee by highlighting the enhanced infrastructure, which includes snacks, beverages, and on-site printing of Index 2 and summary statements.The second phase will expand to 25 more centres across Mumbai suburban, Pune, Thane, Nashik, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar within nine months. The final 30 centres will be rolled out in other districts during the third phase.The initiative follows a directive from revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule last Sept, aimed at professionalising the registration experience. Officials noted that while the private agency provides the support staff and manages the premises, the state maintains full regulatory control.Despite the promise of efficiency, the move has drawn sharp criticism from citizen groups. Activists pointed out that the state has over 500 existing offices, many of which are in disrepair. Critics argued that the Rs10 crore recently earmarked to upgrade 100 govt offices should have been prioritised over creating a premium tier of service.“Most sub-registrar offices lack basic necessities like drinking water, adequate seating, and functional toilets,” said activist Shrinivas Joshi. “The govt should fix the basics. Charging extra for core services is unfair when the existing infrastructure is so inadequate.”Manisha Mohite, a Pune resident who recently registered a property, described existing offices as “cramped and unusable.” She argued that upgrading current facilities should take precedence over roping in private operators.Sachin Shinghavi, from the Association of Service Providers (Maharashtra), said that while the corporate model might benefit those who can afford the premium, the department must not neglect the general public.“The department may want a corporate approach, but they must simultaneously invest in existing offices, as the majority of people will continue to rely on them,” Shinghavi said.
