Amendment to Land Revenue Code to help 60 lakh families and accelerate housing and redevelopment projects.
In a major step toward easing property management and promoting urban development, the State Government has officially amended the Land Revenue Code, simplifying the rules related to land fragmentation in urban areas. The reform, which could benefit over 60 lakh families, aims to streamline property ownership processes, reduce disputes, and unlock new opportunities for urban growth and redevelopment.
This decision marks one of the most significant changes in land-related regulations in recent years, especially for citizens living in municipal and city council areas. With cities expanding rapidly, the earlier restrictions under the old Land Revenue Code had become outdated, causing delays and difficulties in property transactions, redevelopment, and inheritance cases.
Key Highlights of the Amendment
Under the revised Land Revenue Code, the government has relaxed certain provisions related to the fragmentation of land holdings within municipal limits. This means property owners in urban areas will now find it easier to divide, transfer, or sell parts of their land without undergoing lengthy approval processes.
- Simplified process: Residents can now carry out property partition or fragmentation without seeking multiple permissions from revenue and municipal authorities.
- Urban-focused reform: The changes apply primarily to urban areas, ensuring that city dwellers, housing societies, and small plot owners gain flexibility in property management.
- Target beneficiaries: Approximately 60 lakh families across the state are expected to directly benefit, especially those residing in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad, and Indore.
- Promotion of redevelopment: The amendment is likely to accelerate housing and redevelopment projects, addressing space constraints and boosting real estate activity.
Addressing Long-Standing Issues
For years, urban landowners faced various hurdles due to strict rules that governed how small plots could be divided or sold. The old law aimed to prevent the creation of uneconomically small agricultural holdings in rural areas, but the same restrictions also applied to urban spaces, leading to confusion and delays.
As urban landscapes evolved, these rules created bottlenecks. House owners often struggled to partition their property among family members or redevelop older buildings. Real estate developers, too, found it challenging to consolidate or reorganize small plots for housing projects.
Recognizing these challenges, the state’s urban development and revenue departments worked jointly to update the code. The latest amendment ensures that urban property laws align better with present-day realities and housing needs.
A Step Toward Ease of Living
Officials from the state government described the reform as part of a broader initiative to promote the “Ease of Living” for citizens. By removing unnecessary layers of approval, the government hopes to make property-related processes faster, more transparent, and people-friendly.
A senior official from the Revenue Department said, “This is a landmark reform that brings much-needed flexibility to urban property management. It will particularly benefit middle-class families who own small plots or homes and have been waiting for clarity on land division and inheritance.”
The reform is also expected to encourage smoother redevelopment of old housing colonies, cooperative societies, and other urban clusters. Many of these communities were built decades ago and have become structurally weak or congested. With simpler land division rules, residents can now initiate redevelopment projects more easily, improving both living standards and property values.
Boost to Urban Planning and Real Estate Sector
Experts believe the amendment could prove transformative for the state’s real estate market. Easier land fragmentation rules will help unlock underutilized plots, bringing more land into circulation for housing and infrastructure projects.
Property developers and housing societies can now negotiate redevelopment projects more efficiently, as the process of consolidating or dividing land has become legally simpler. This, in turn, could attract more investments into the urban housing sector.
Urban planning experts also point out that this change will support the state’s larger goal of promoting planned urbanization. By simplifying land management, the government can encourage more formal development, reduce unauthorized construction, and ensure better resource use in growing cities.
Impact on Families and Citizens
For ordinary families, the most immediate benefit will be fewer bureaucratic hurdles. Earlier, landowners were required to seek approval from multiple authorities before selling or dividing smaller land parcels—an exercise that often took months or even years.
With the new amendment, such procedures are expected to become more transparent and efficient. Families can now divide property among members for inheritance, construct additional homes, or sell their share more conveniently.
Moreover, land titles and records will be updated more accurately, reducing disputes and confusion during transactions. The government also plans to digitize and link updated land records with online portals, ensuring citizens have easy access to their property details.
Government’s Commitment to Reform
The amendment to the Land Revenue Code reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to reform and modernize land governance. Over the past few years, the administration has introduced several initiatives to simplify land record management, promote digitization, and address property-related grievances.
By focusing on reducing red tape and improving transparency, the government aims to make urban life more convenient and efficient. Officials have also assured that safeguards will remain in place to prevent misuse of the law or unplanned fragmentation that could lead to haphazard development.
Looking Ahead
With this amendment coming into effect, experts expect a wave of positive outcomes—ranging from increased transparency in property dealings to faster completion of housing projects. For lakhs of families, this change brings long-awaited relief and empowers them with greater control over their land and homes.
The reform stands as an example of how smart policy updates can directly improve citizens’ lives while fostering growth, innovation, and investment in urban areas.
