PUNE: The state registration department is set to launch its first five private model sub-registrar offices, including one in the city, this August.
A senior official revealed that two offices will be established in Mumbai, one in Navi Mumbai, and another in Nagpur during the initial phase. This initiative is part of the registration department’s broader plan to create 60 model registration centres across the state through public-private partnerships, while maintaining the existing 517 government-run offices.
The private operator has assured that these first five centres will commence operations between August 1 and August 30, with the original target being July, according to a senior official from the state registration department.
Those opting for the model centres will incur an additional processing fee of up to Rs 5,217 per document. These model SROs are designed after Passport Seva Kendras, intending to enhance the customer experience through improved infrastructure, technology, and support services.
Officials indicated that while the private operator will oversee the management of these centres, all statutory powers and registration processes will remain under government control. “The selected agency will be responsible for providing infrastructure, facility management, and support staff, but the actual registration will still be handled by government officials, including sub-registrars,” stated another official.
The department plans to roll out 25 additional centres in high-registration districts, including Pune, Mumbai suburban, Thane, Nashik, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, as part of the second phase. The final phase will see the establishment of the remaining 30 centres across other districts.
These model SROs will offer fully air-conditioned spaces, Wi-Fi-enabled waiting areas, digital document processing systems, and trained personnel to assist visitors. Additional amenities such as drinking water, refreshments, and organized waiting areas are also planned.
The introduction of private registration centres comes in response to ongoing criticism regarding the conditions of many existing registration offices, with concerns raised by citizens and activists about overcrowding, poor sanitation, insufficient seating, and lack of basic facilities.
Mohan Joshi, a senior citizen, emphasized the need for simultaneous upgrades of existing offices. “Many sub-registrar offices still lack basic amenities like drinking water, comfortable seating, and clean toilets. While modern centres may enhance service delivery, the government should also prioritize improving infrastructure in regular offices, where the majority of citizens still go,” he remarked.
Pune’s Pushpa Chavan, who recently completed property registration, remarked, “Although the registration process has become largely digital, experiences at numerous offices remain frustrating due to long lines, cramped waiting areas, and unsatisfactory sanitation. Citizens have been advocating for better facilities for years, and upgrading existing offices should also be a priority.”
