Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Inaugurates International Workshop on Modern Technologies in Urban Land Surveys

New Delhi: Union Minister for Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the International Workshop on “Modern Technologies in Survey-Resurvey for Urban Land Records” at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi today via video conferencing. The workshop aims to enhance digitization and modernize land records under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).

In his keynote address, Chouhan emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining accurate and transparent land records, which play a vital role in land resource optimization, policy formulation, and improving public service delivery. He also highlighted the importance of seamless access to property records for efficient tax administration and the effective implementation of central and state government schemes.

Chouhan discussed the success of initiatives in Madhya Pradesh, where drone-based land surveys in 34 towns have been completed, and Orthorectified Imagery (ORI) has been produced in 12 towns. He also introduced the “National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA),” a pilot project aimed at creating land records in over 100 cities and towns across India within a year, with plans to extend the survey to all urban areas in the country over the next five years.

The Minister underscored the role of aerial photography and 3D imagery in urban planning, particularly in drainage and flood management, and expressed optimism that these technologies would accelerate land surveys and improve property tax assessments and transport systems.

Chouhan expressed his enthusiasm for international collaboration during the workshop and encouraged state governments to actively participate in discussions to integrate modern technologies into urban land administration. He emphasized that this event provides a valuable platform for sharing global best practices and applying them to enhance transparency and efficiency in land management systems across India.

The workshop, organized by the Department of Land Resources, featured a technology exhibition showcasing cutting-edge survey and resurvey technologies from over 30 companies, both domestic and international. It brought together representatives from 34 states and Union Territories, urban local bodies, and international experts from countries including South Korea, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United States.

Manoj Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Land Resources, highlighted the pilot program to survey urban areas using drone technology in partnership with the Survey of India. This initiative aims to help states develop urban land records, master plans, and drainage records, with the goal of completing the work within one year.

The workshop also featured key insights from international participants, including representatives from the World Bank, who discussed global best practices in digital land records management. The event aims to foster collaboration between India and global partners in utilizing modern technologies to streamline urban land surveys and improve governance.