Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to introduce a completely cashless and paperless land registration system across all registration offices in the state, aiming to make the process more transparent, efficient and citizen-friendly.

The decision was taken at a high-level review meeting chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari at Lok Seva Bhawan on Wednesday.

Under the proposed system, buyers and sellers will no longer have to visit registration offices to submit applications after finalising a land deal. Instead, the entire application process will be completed online. The parties will only need to appear before the registering authority at the time of execution of the sale deed for identity verification and completion of other statutory formalities.

The government has also decided to abolish the existing provision that allows cash payments of up to ₹15,000 towards registration-related charges. All payments will now be made only through digital modes, a move aimed at ensuring complete financial transparency and reducing the scope for corruption.

As part of the paperless registration process, applicants will have to upload all required documents online. These will include identity proof of the buyer and seller, plot details, the Encumbrance Certificate (EC) and other prescribed records. The government expects the new system to reduce paperwork, improve service delivery and minimise delays in processing registrations.

The meeting also discussed introducing a digital verification mechanism under which registration documents can be scrutinised by any registration office in the state, instead of limiting the process to the office where the document is to be registered. The proposal is expected to improve transparency and ensure greater impartiality in document verification.

Another key reform proposed is that only registered deed writers or advocates will be authorised to prepare and submit registration documents. Their details must be provided during the online application process. Advocates, stamp vendors and deed writers involved in the registration process will also have to be registered with the department.

Minister Pujari directed the Revenue and Disaster Management Department to finalise and notify a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) at the earliest to ensure smooth implementation of the new registration system.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Arvind Padhee, Inspector General of Registration P. Anvesha Reddy and senior officials of the Revenue Department, the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC).