By Dr. Danish Lambe, Editor-in-Chief, YIIPPEE® News Network
In Maharashtra’s rapidly urbanizing landscape, one of the most overlooked yet game-changing reforms is the transition from traditional land identifiers—Survey Numbers and Gat Numbers—to City Title Survey (CTS) Numbers. This technical shift is now reshaping everything from deemed conveyance, self-redevelopment, and property taxation, to FSI calculations and urban land litigation.
Whether you’re a housing society in Mira-Bhayandar, a PMC consultant in Thane, or a plot owner in Navi Mumbai, the move to CTS numbering is no longer optional—it’s foundational.
🧾 What is a CTS Number?
A CTS number is a unique, urban land identification number assigned under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966, by the City Survey Department. It forms the basis for property records, municipal tax systems, zoning maps under DCPR, and redevelopment approvals within city limits.
🔍 Legal Authority: What the Law Says
The conversion isn’t just administrative—it’s a legal necessity for multiple property actions:
- Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966 – Establishes the authority of the City Survey Department to issue CTS Numbers.
- Rule 11 of the Maharashtra Deemed Conveyance Rules, 2010 – Mandates societies to furnish exact land particulars (including PR Card and CTS Number) while applying for deemed conveyance.
- MRTP Act & DCPR 2034 – Entire zoning, FSI, and TDR allocation in urban areas is CTS-linked.
🔹 “Municipal zoning and DCPR 2034 maps are designed CTS-wise—not Survey-wise. Any architect or developer ignoring CTS data risks plan rejection or FSI miscalculation.”
🏙️ Where It’s Already Happening
- Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC): Integrated CTS-based PR Cards, digital tax records, and redevelopment systems are now mandatory.
- Navi Mumbai (CIDCO & NMMC): Completed CTS integration for plotted lands; CIDCO cancelled plots worth ₹2,000+ crore for misuse of land identifiers.
- Mira-Bhayandar & Vasai-Virar: In transition, with thousands of societies still stuck with Gat Nos; MBMC/VVCMC have begun partial mapping, but delays persist.
✅ What Housing Societies Must Do Now
5-Step CTS Readiness Checklist
If your society is planning redevelopment, conveyance, or legal compliance, follow these immediately:
- 📜 Apply for updated PR Card (with CTS Number) from the City Survey Office.
- 🧾 Ensure Property Tax Receipts mention CTS Number (not just Survey No).
- 📐 Architect must prepare CTS-wise layout plan for IOD, LOI, and CC submissions.
- 📁 File RTI to obtain Ferfar entries, Saatbara, and verify CTS mapping.
- ✍️ Mention CTS Number clearly in all MoUs, PMC Agreements, and Deeds.
Failure to align your documentation with CTS can lead to:
- Rejection of deemed conveyance applications
- Denial of bank project loans
- Obstruction in plan approvals
📢 Policy Recommendation to the Government
The CTS transition is patchy and confusing in many semi-urban zones. YIIPPEE® News Network calls on the Maharashtra Government to:
- 🏛️ Issue a State-wide GR mandating ULBs (TMC, MBMC, NMMC, VVCMC) to complete full CTS conversion within 6 months for all urban and merged revenue villages.
- 🔗 Create a unified digital portal linking PR Cards, Property Tax Records, IGR data, and DCPR zoning maps via CTS Numbers.
- 🗣️ Start a public outreach campaign to educate cooperative housing societies on the benefits and process of CTS conversion.
🧠 Conclusion
This isn’t just about renumbering plots. It’s about transparency, accountability, and legal empowerment. CTS numbers are becoming the backbone of urban land ownership—and without them, housing societies risk being left out of the redevelopment and regularization future.
As Maharashtra moves toward smart governance and digitized urban planning, the CTS number is no longer a technicality—it is your land’s legal identity.
For legal awareness drives, CTS plan drafting, or redevelopment documentation support, contact:
📞 8097381503 | ✉️ admin@yiippee.com | 🌐 www.yiippee.com
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