Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani Highlights Importance of Modern Technologies in Urban Land Management

Dr Pemmasani remarked that the collective insights shared during the event would lay the foundation for building smarter and more efficient urban management systems in India.

Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, addressed the concluding session of the two-day international workshop on "Modern Technologies in Survey-Resurvey for Urban Land Records" at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. During his address, Dr. Pemmasani underscored the critical role accurate land records play, not just as administrative tools, but as the backbone of socio-economic planning, public service delivery, and conflict resolution.

The workshop brought together global experts and leaders to explore innovations in land management, featuring cutting-edge technologies such as geospatial tools, drones, aircraft-based surveys, and GIS-integrated solutions. Dr Pemmasani remarked that the collective insights shared during the event would lay the foundation for building smarter and more efficient urban management systems in India.

Technological Revolution in Urban Land Administration

Dr. Pemmasani emphasized that as rural land records have evolved, urban land management must also keep pace with rapid urbanization. He stated, “We are at a pivotal moment in urban governance where technology meets opportunity.” Advanced technologies like drones, satellite imagery, and aircraft-based surveys are now capable of delivering highly accurate, ortho-rectified images and geo-referenced maps, reducing human error and providing consistent, up-to-date data even in challenging urban environments with tall buildings and dense vegetation.

He added that integrating these technologies into GIS platforms would turn data into actionable insights, enabling improvements in urban planning, real estate development, infrastructure management, and disaster preparedness with unprecedented precision.

Progress in Urban Land Management Under PM Modi's Leadership

Reflecting on the progress made under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Dr Pemmasani highlighted key initiatives like the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP). He noted that India has digitized land records across more than 6.25 lakh villages and introduced the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) or Bhu-Aadhaar, which integrates revenue and registration systems. However, he stressed that urban land administration must advance further to address the complex demands of expanding cities, which are growing both vertically and horizontally.

Dr. Pemmasani reiterated that modern urban land management is essential for economic growth, industrial development, and social harmony, and it should move beyond traditional, costly, and time-consuming survey methods. Spatially enabled land records will help resolve long-standing issues like overlapping ownership claims, inconsistent land valuations, and boundary disputes.

Global Insights and Collaborative Approach

The Minister expressed his enthusiasm about the global collaboration witnessed during the workshop. Representatives from countries such as the USA, South Korea, Spain, Germany, and India shared their experiences in overcoming urban land management challenges. Dr. Pemmasani praised the workshop as the beginning of a transformative journey, emphasizing that the insights gained would shape India’s national programs to modernize urban land records.

He announced the creation of pilot projects across select cities, accompanied by capacity-building initiatives for local and state officials. These efforts aim to establish a transparent, efficient, and equitable system for urban land management in India.

Launch of Pilot Programme: NAKSHA

As part of this initiative, Dr. Pemmasani revealed the launch of a pilot program, National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA), which will create land records in 130 cities across all states and union territories within one year. The program is expected to expand over five years to cover about 4,900 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

The workshop also facilitated discussions on the usage of aerial photography and other advanced mapping technologies for accurate and efficient land parcel identification in urban areas. Speakers from industry partners and international experts presented case studies, policy frameworks, and technological advancements that showcased the potential to revolutionize urban land administration.

Dr. Pemmasani concluded by congratulating the Department of Land Resources for organizing this landmark workshop. He emphasized that the event was not the end but the start of a new era in urban governance. He encouraged participants to carry forward the knowledge, technologies, and solutions discussed at the workshop, and to apply them in creating a robust and modern urban land management system.

By adopting these innovations, Dr. Pemmasani believes India can achieve a transparent and efficient urban land management system that supports sustainable economic growth, equitable development, and social harmony.