The state registration department will launch the first five private model sub-registrar offices, including one in Pune, in August. Two sub-registrar offices (SROs) will be set up in Mumbai, one in Navi Mumbai and another in Nagpur in the first phase, according to a senior official of the registration department after a final discussion with the private operator.
Rollout of Model Registration Centres
The rollout marks the beginning of the state registration department’s plan to establish 60 model registration centres across the state through public-private partnership, while continuing operations at the existing 517 government-run registration offices. The private operator has committed to start the first five centres between August 1 and August 30, though the initial target was July.
Additional Charges and Features
Citizens opting for the model centres will have to pay an additional processing charge of up to Rs 5,217 per document. The model SROs are being developed on the lines of Passport Seva Kendras, aiming to improve citizens’ experience through better infrastructure, technology and support services. The centres will feature fully air-conditioned premises, Wi-Fi-enabled waiting areas, digital document-processing systems and trained service personnel. Facilities such as drinking water, refreshments and organised waiting areas are also planned.
Officials said the private operator will manage the centres, but all statutory powers and registration-related functions will remain with government officials. The selected agency will provide infrastructure, facility management and support staff, while the actual registration process will be carried out by registration department officials, including sub-registrars. Regulatory control will remain entirely with the government.
Future Phases
The department plans to launch another 25 centres in high-registration districts, including Pune, Mumbai suburban, Thane, Nashik, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, in the second phase. The remaining 30 will be rolled out across other districts in the final phase.
Criticism of Existing Offices
The rollout of private registration centres comes amid growing criticism of the condition of many existing registration offices. Citizens and activists have repeatedly pointed to overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate seats and lack of basic amenities. Mohan Joshi, a senior citizen, said the government must simultaneously improve the existing offices. He noted that most sub-registrar offices still lack adequate drinking water facilities, seating arrangements and clean toilets, and while modern centres may improve service delivery, the government should also focus on upgrading infrastructure in regular offices where the majority of citizens continue to go.
Pune's Pushpa Chavan, who recently completed a property registration, said the registration process is largely digital today, but the experience at many offices is traumatic because of long queues, cramped waiting areas and poor sanitation. Citizens have been demanding better facilities for years, and upgrading the existing offices should remain a priority.
