Delhi launches streamlined property registration for unauthorised colonies
Starting Friday, residents of Delhi's unauthorised colonies will be able to apply for property registration through a new streamlined system implemented by the government. This move aims to grant ownership rights to nearly 10 lakh households across the city's 1,511 unauthorised colonies.
Residents owning properties in these colonies need to visit the Swagam portal of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and log in. Those already registered under the PM-UDAY scheme can use their existing login credentials on the Swagam portal, helping avoid duplication of records.
The revenue department of the Delhi government manages the PM-UDAY portal, which issues the PM-UDAY card essential for the registration process. Individuals who do not yet have the card must first apply for it through the PM-UDAY portal. Once issued, the card enables them to initiate the property regularisation process.
"After obtaining the PM-UDAY card, applicants must return to the Swagam portal to file their request for either an authorisation slip or a conveyance deed," said an official.
Once the application is submitted, the process becomes largely automated. "The system will transfer the application to the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS), where the final stage of property registration is completed," he added.
To ensure smooth processing, the government has integrated three key platforms — Swagam, PM-UDAY, and NGDRS — which will enable seamless processing of applications.
This move follows the central government's April 7 decision to relax norms for regularisation. Of Delhi's 1,731 unauthorised colonies, 1,511 will now be regularised on an "as-is, where-is" basis, removing the earlier requirement for approved layout plans. Property owners can get building plans prepared by empanelled architects and submit applications online.
"The registration process has been made simple and applicant-friendly. It is transparent and will also help reduce delays. Because most of the process is online and timelines are fixed, people should get their ownership documents much faster than before, without having to make repeated visits to government offices," an official said.
According to the timelines, a GIS-based survey report will be generated within seven days of an application, while any deficiencies will be flagged within 15 days through a deficiency resolution memo. The final conveyance deed, which establishes legal ownership, is expected to be issued within 45 days of the application.
To ensure smooth implementation, 13 district-level teams — one for each district — have been set up under the leadership of respective additional district magistrates. Each team will include several officials who will oversee ground-level execution.
The regularisation move is expected to unlock infrastructure development in these areas, where lakhs of people have lived without functional infrastructure. The legal status is likely to lead to greater investment by the government in better roads, drainage systems, and other civic amenities.
An official said that to prevent fresh unauthorised construction, authorities are considering plans to deploy AI-enabled drone surveys at two-month intervals. These surveys will help monitor new structures and alterations, enabling timely enforcement.
