In a landmark move aimed at revolutionizing citizen services, the Chandigarh Union Territory Estate Office has transitioned to a completely digital ecosystem. This shift enables end-to-end online processing for all property-related applications, effectively eliminating the traditional hassles of paperwork and in-person visits.
End of the Paper Trail: Key Services Migrate Online
Deputy Commissioner-cum-Estate Officer Nishant Kumar Yadav announced that all major services are now accessible through a unified online platform. This comprehensive list includes critical processes like property transfer, building plan approvals, occupation certificates (OC), and various other permissions. The office has undertaken a significant revision of its service checklists to remove redundant steps.
Citizens are no longer required to re-submit documents that are already available in the office's records. Furthermore, the requirements for affidavits and notarisation have been substantially simplified to ease the burden on applicants. These updated checklists are readily available for download, ensuring transparency and preparedness.
Automation and Fair Play: Recent Digital Milestones
The push for digitisation is built on several key initiatives rolled out earlier. One of the most impactful is the auto-mutation system introduced earlier this year. This system automatically initiates the mutation process (recording change of ownership) after a property is registered at the sub-registrar office. Ownership details are now digitally transmitted, enabling a paperless mutation without any separate application or physical visit from the citizen.
To guarantee fairness and transparency in processing, the department has recently implemented a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) system for all online applications. Each request receives a system-generated queue number, ensuring strict chronological processing and eliminating any possibility of preferential treatment. Monitoring dashboards have also been set up to track pendency at every official level, holding staff accountable for delays.
Digitising History: Legacy Records Get a Digital Life
Beyond current transactions, the estate office is also focused on preserving and making accessible its historical data. In a massive exercise, over 10 lakh (1 million) pages of legacy property records have been scanned and uploaded to a secure Document Management System. This archive ensures that old records are safe, searchable, and can be easily retrieved when needed for verification or legal purposes.
The collective impact of these measures is a monumental leap towards a transparent, efficient, and citizen-friendly administration in Chandigarh's real estate sector. The reforms are expected to drastically reduce processing times, minimize human interface and its associated delays, and set a new benchmark for urban governance in India.
