NAGPUR: The Maharashtra government has announced significant changes to land survey charges and procedures, aiming to reduce fees for family partition measurements and establish fixed timelines for completing surveys. These reforms are designed to alleviate public grievances and enhance administrative accountability.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has approved the new framework, which requires regular land surveys to be completed within 90 days and expedited surveys within 30 days.
The government indicated that these changes are intended to tackle longstanding complaints regarding delays, lack of transparency, and alleged corruption in land measurement processes, which impact property transactions and inheritance disputes in both rural and urban Maharashtra.
Under the new policy, measurement for land partitioned among family members by mutual agreement or court orders will cost only ₹200 per subdivision, providing significant relief to families dealing with inheritance matters.
In rural areas, regular surveys for land parcels up to two hectares will be charged at ₹2,000, while expedited surveys will cost ₹8,000. For urban areas, the fee is set at ₹3,000 for regular measurements of plots up to one hectare, and ₹12,000 for fast-track surveys.
The government has also instituted stricter accountability measures for applicants and officials. If an applicant does not appear on the scheduled measurement day, a revisit penalty of 50% of the original fee (capped at ₹10,000) will be applied. Conversely, if the surveying officer is absent, no revisit fee will be charged.
The revised structure also imposes a fee one-and-a-half times the standard rate for surveys under the Maharashtra Gunthewari Development Act. Applicants contesting measurements conducted by junior surveyors will need to pay three to five times the standard fee for higher-level validations.
Semi-government institutions will enjoy a 50% concession in survey charges, while fully government-owned lands will be eligible for a 75% waiver.
“Through fixed timelines and adjusted charges, our goal is to make the survey process more transparent, timely, and citizen-friendly,” stated Bawankule. “These reforms aim to eliminate unnecessary delays and reduce corruption associated with land measurement activities.”
This initiative is particularly relevant as Maharashtra is experiencing a surge in land transactions, rapid urbanization, and mounting litigation surrounding property ownership and partition disputes. Revenue officials believe that the standardized timelines and fee structures could enhance efficiency in land administration and decrease the backlog of pending survey applications statewide.
