PUNE: A revised proposal for “vertical property cards” aimed at flat owners has been reintroduced to the state government and is anticipated for cabinet review in June, as stated by officials from the settlement commissioner’s office. The proposal, which has lingered for almost four years, has recently been sent to the law and judiciary department with several incorporated modifications. A senior official mentioned, “It should go before the cabinet once the department approves it.”
If sanctioned, Maharashtra will be among the select states in India to adopt such a system. The initial rollout will target projects registered with the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) and newly constructed buildings, expanding in phases to older properties.
The proposed vertical property cards will act as an independent record of rights for individual apartments, detailing ownership, carpet area, land share, and any outstanding loans. Revenue officials believe this move will effectively map the state’s vertical growth and enhance clarity. “It will ensure cleaner property titles and significantly reduce transaction risks,” one revenue official remarked.
At present, the state provides property cards for urban land along with “7/12 extracts” for rural areas. However, no standalone document exists to formally establish ownership of a flat within a multi-storey building. To address this shortcoming, the state has proposed new regulations under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code of 1966.
State settlement commissioner Shailesh Nawal elaborated on the new system’s scope: “Upon implementation, the existing property card or 7/12 extract will serve as the primary ownership document for the land, whereas the vertical property card will serve as a supplemental record for the individual unit.”
New buildings and MahaRERA-registered projects will automatically be included, while existing housing societies will need to request the cards once the policy is finalized. Detailed guidelines for documentation, verification, and building mapping will follow the final notification.
The system aims to mitigate property disputes, simplify the resale process, and establish a transparent ownership trail. Realty experts, who have advocated for this shift for years, expressed their approval of the development. “This is a long-overdue move,” said one expert. “Once implemented, it will enhance trust, streamline bank transactions for loans, and simplify inheritance processes.”
