Patna: The Bihar government is set to overhaul the state’s land and property registration system by introducing a technology-driven process aimed at curbing disputes and fraudulent sales. Under the new initiative, prospective buyers will be able to view the actual condition of land, houses, flats, and commercial properties before registration.
The Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department is developing software that will require uploading images of the property along with its latitude and longitude to a government portal. Registration will only proceed once the system confirms the property’s location and ownership.
Officials say the move is designed to prevent double registrations and “land mafia” activity. If anyone attempts to sell the same property again, the system will automatically block the transaction.
Currently, land verification relies on GPS cameras, but errors of up to a kilometre are common, particularly in rural areas. The new system promises to address these inaccuracies by linking on-the-spot photographs with precise location data.
Buyers will also receive an SMS containing the full property details and an image, which can be downloaded as an official record, eliminating the need for in-person visits. The department anticipates that approximately 60% of land mutations will eventually be handled online, reducing delays and disputes.
Trials of the software have been completed in districts including Darbhanga, and officials are preparing to seek cabinet approval for statewide rollout. Once implemented, the system is expected to make land transactions significantly safer and more transparent, providing buyers with confidence that they are receiving the property they paid for.
