The Delhi government has initiated a significant digital transformation project by developing specialized software to comprehensively map and compile data on all land assets under its ownership. This ambitious undertaking aims to create a centralized database that will revolutionize how government land is managed and utilized across the national capital.
What is the Delhi Asset Management Information System?
The new software, named 'Delhi Asset Management Information System' (DAMIS), will serve as a complete repository of information about plots owned by various departments and government agencies. According to officials familiar with the project, the system will document critical details including land size, precise location, and current status of each property.
The comprehensive mapping will specifically record whether properties have been encroached upon, contain settlements or buildings, or are lying vacant. This level of detail represents a major step forward in government land management practices.
Comprehensive Data Collection Process
The government has directed all departments, including the Public Works Department, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, and Delhi Jal Board, to submit detailed information about the land and properties they control. The data collection is remarkably thorough, encompassing multiple dimensions of each property.
Departments are required to furnish information about plot shape, demarcation status, road connectivity, distance from nearest roads, current custodians, and any proposed development plans. The technical specifications extend to including unique land identification numbers, GPS coordinates, GIS map references, and traditional revenue documentation like Khasra numbers.
The asset classification system will categorize properties as buildings, vacant land, water bodies, roads, community halls, or other types. Additional documentation will cover ownership patterns—whether government, private, or community-owned—and acquisition methods including whether lands were acquired, transferred, leased, or are freehold properties.
Practical Applications and Benefits
Officials emphasize that the primary objective is to compile accurate data and documentation of government-owned land. Once this database is operational, the government will be able to make informed decisions about urban development projects more efficiently.
"If the government identifies a need to construct a school or hospital in a particular ward or district, officials can simply consult the software, prepare a proposal, and execute the plan in a timely manner," explained a senior official involved in the project.
The system also addresses the practical challenge of government departments operating from congested spaces. With complete property details available, the administration can strategically plan new offices, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, parking areas, and other public infrastructure.
Tackling Land Encroachment Issues
One of the significant advantages of this digital mapping initiative is its ability to identify and document encroachments on government land. The software will provide precise data about how many properties are encroached upon, the nature of these encroachments—whether occupied by homeless populations, slums, or resettlement colonies—and the duration of such occupations.
This information will enable the government to develop structured rehabilitation plans, potentially relocating encroachers to better-equipped locations with improved amenities. The approach represents a more systematic method of addressing long-standing land encroachment challenges in the city.
The IT Department has been officially tasked with developing the software infrastructure. Once all departments submit their land data, the IT team will compile and upload the information into the centralized system, creating a unified platform for land asset management that promises to transform urban planning in Delhi.
