Flat Owners In Mumbai, Pune & Across Maharashtra To Get ‘Vertical Property Cards’; State Launches Landmark Ownership Record Scheme
Flat Owners In Mumbai, Pune & Across Maharashtra To Get 'Vertical Property Cards'; State Launches Landmark Ownership Record Scheme
Pune: In a major reform aimed at strengthening property ownership records in urban areas, the Maharashtra government has introduced the Vertical Property Card scheme, which will provide individual flat and commercial unit owners with official recognition in the state’s land records.
The initiative, which will cover cities including Mumbai, Pune and Thane, marks a significant departure from the existing system, where land records typically mention only the builder, landowner or housing society as the owner of the plot. Under the new framework, every flat and commercial unit will receive a distinct government-recognised identity.
According to the new policy, each Vertical Property Card will record the owner’s name along with key property details, including the floor number, carpet area and proportionate share in the underlying land. The digitally authenticated document will serve as an official proof of ownership, strengthening the legal status of individual property owners.
The reform is expected to benefit residents living in multi-storey buildings across Maharashtra, particularly in major urban centres where individual apartments have traditionally not been reflected separately in revenue records. Until now, ownership has largely been established through sale agreements, housing society records and share certificates, while the primary land record continued to reflect only the landowner or developer.
The state government estimates that more than 16.53 crore flat owners across Maharashtra will benefit from the initiative. A nominal fee of ₹500 has been fixed for obtaining the digitally authenticated property card.
Officials believe the new system will simplify property transactions, improve the resale process, facilitate bank loan approvals and make redevelopment projects more transparent by providing clear, government-recognised ownership records.
The Vertical Property Card will also incorporate digital security features, including QR code-based verification and authentication, making ownership records easier to verify while reducing the risk of fraud such as duplicate property sales and multiple loans being obtained against the same property.
The initiative is expected to play a crucial role in redevelopment projects, especially in older housing societies. Ownership disputes related to carpet area, land share and documentation often delay redevelopment proposals. By separately recording the details of every residential and commercial unit, the government aims to bring greater transparency and reduce dependence on fragmented paperwork during the redevelopment process.
