PUNE: Property registration offices across the state would operate for two extra hours from March 1 to handle the rush of registrations expected before the end of the financial year, especially in view of anticipated rise in RR rates for the next fiscal.
The registration department issued a notification in this regard late on Monday evening. “All 519 registration offices across the state will operate for extra two hours from March 1,” a senior official told TOI on Tuesday.
Deputy inspector general of registration (HQ Maharashtra) Udayraj Chavan said the department expected a heavy rush for registrations in the last month of the current financial year. “So, we have directed property registration offices to extend their timing by two hours to facilitate citizens and manage the expected rush,” he said.
According to department officials, this is perhaps the first time that the registration department has decided to keep its offices open beyond usual working hours in the last month of the fiscal.
Citizens planning to register properties in March said the move would help manage footfall at registration offices, considering a likely hike in ready reckoner rates from next fiscal.
Entrepreneur Rekha Patel, who is looking to complete registration process for a property in the first week of March, said, “Some offices close early in the day, while others are open till late evening. Additional two hours will help many.”
Consumer activist Shrikant Joshi said the extra time would be of huge benefit as citizens tend to register properties towards the fag-end of the financial year, especially when there are indications of rise in RR rates. “Historically, March registrations are always higher than other months. The demand for keeping the registration offices open for longer hours will benefit citizens,” he said.
The department is hoping that the move would help shore up registrations to help it achieve revenue target of Rs 55,000 crore for the current financial year. Till Feb 24, the department has registered 24.87 lakh documents, earning a revenue of Rs 48,661 crore. “We are sure that we will surpass our revenue target in line with the last three years,” an official said.
Districts have proposed a 10% rise in RR rates to state govt, which will take the final call for revised rates’ implementation from April 1.
Kanishka K, who has invested in a property, said she wanted to complete the registration process before the announcement of the RR rates. “I have been after my developer to finish it in the first half of next month. We don’t want to delay it as higher RR rates will increase the rate of the property,” she said.
Developers said extended hours would help speed up the registrations.
Modernisation plans hit fund hurdle
Pune: The state registration department’s plan to modernise 100 sub-registrar offices statewide is still awaiting funding approval, putting the project on hold.
“While funds have been earmarked for the proposal, we have yet to receive the amount. We will be able to start work only after the amount is formally sanctioned,” a senior registration department official said on Tuesday.
The renovation plan included new furniture, fixtures and interior improvements to enhance the working environment for staffers and citizens visiting these offices. Besides renovation of existing offices, there is also a plan to shift offices to new locations.
