Andhra Pradesh Government Introduces Naksha to Transform Urban Planning and Property Tax

In a significant move for modernizing the urban governance framework, the Andhra Pradesh government is launching Naksha, an unprecedented geospatial land survey program which aims to increase transparency, efficiency and accuracy in urban planning and property taxation. Sponsored by the Central Government, this program will completely change how cities in Andhra Pradesh manage land records, property taxes and development planning across urban local bodies. Naksha represents a change in smart governance.

What is the Naksha Program?

Naksha, or National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey, is a sophisticated digital mapping and land surveying program that utilizes aerial surveys and geospatial technologies. The goal of the program is to remove the manual (and typically discretionary) process of property taxation and urban planning, which can be rife with errors, delays, and disputes.

At the request of the Andhra Pradesh government, the Centre chose ten municipalities to pilot Naksha, including large urban areas such as Eluru and Mangalagiri-Tadepalli, where aerial surveys are underway, as well as eight others that have passed the survey phase.

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Key Features of the Naksha Program

The Andhra Pradesh government launches Naksha with several critical features that will revolutionize urban management:

1. Comprehensive Aerial Surveys: Using drones and satellite technology, the program maps every property, residential, commercial, and industrial, with high precision.
2. Digital Property Records: The survey data will be digitized and integrated into municipal databases, ensuring easy access and management of land records.
3. Transparent Taxation: The program minimizes human interference in property tax assessment, making tax collection more transparent and fair.
4. Efficient Urban Planning: With accurate data, urban planners can design better infrastructure, approve building plans faster, and monitor city development more effectively.
5. Resolution of Property Disputes: Accurate mapping helps clarify ownership and boundaries, reducing long-standing property disputes.

Progress So Far

The pilot phase of Naksha is progressing consistently. Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister Dr. P. Narayana says about 9.5 lakh properties and 524 square kilometers amount of area is currently being surveyed across the ten chosen municipalities. For the survey, the state government has consigned 156 rovers (cutting-edge surveying devices) and trained nearly 643 verification teams for accurate and ground-level verification.

Additionally, a re-survey of 6,000 government properties in respective municipalities including Kuppam, Ongole, and Anantapur was completed so that government properties would also be reflected in the land survey.

Why Naksha Matters for Andhra Pradesh

Urban areas in Andhra Pradesh are growing rapidly, and managing this growth requires up-to-date and reliable land records. The Andhra Pradesh government launches Naksha to meet this challenge head-on, providing multiple benefits to both the government and citizens:

• Improved Governance: Digital land records and taxation processes help reduce corruption and inefficiency, promoting a culture of good governance.
• Better Infrastructure Development: With precise geospatial data, the government can plan roads, drainage, water supply, and public utilities more effectively, improving the quality of life for urban residents.
• Fair Property Taxation: Accurate property boundaries and assessments ensure that taxes are fairly levied, preventing revenue losses and disputes.
• Increased Investor Confidence: Transparent property records attract investors and developers by providing clarity and reducing legal risks.
• Empowerment of Citizens: Homeowners and businesses will have easier access to legal documents related to their properties, reducing the hassles of paperwork and manual errors.

Statements from Leadership

Minister Dr. P. Narayana stressed the transformative capabilities of Naksha, by saying, “It will bring revolutionary changes in urban areas, especially in planning developmental works, granting building plans and avoiding manual touch in property taxation.” He also reiterated the government’s plan to complete the surveys in line with the timelines provided by the Centre.

He also illustrated the alignment between the ambitious national and state vision:  “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is intending to develop a ‘Vikasit Bharat’ while Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is targeting ‘Swarnandhra’ by 2047. Naksha is an important ingredient in achieving these visions through better governance and Urban Management.”

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The Road Ahead: Pilot Project and Expansion

At present, the pilot project covers 10 municipalities; however, the Andhra Pradesh government anticipates scaling Naksha based on success and lessons learned. Coordinating and collaborating between municipal commissioners, district collectors, and Central teams will be prioritized in order to implement it efficiently.

Once complete, the data and process established in Naksha will be scaled to other municipalities and urban areas across Andhra Pradesh. The phased approach ensures that the platform is robust and effective and meets regional requirements.

Conclusion

The Andhra Pradesh government has rolled out Naksha at an ideal moment when the State is about to experience unprecedented urban growth and development. The government is setting a major precedent by embracing advanced geospatial technologies, establishing a new standard for government transparency, efficiency and innovation in urban governance and property taxation.

Naksha has a promise to not only simplify governance, but also enhance citizen rights to property and urban services. As the pilot phase continues and it is brought statewide, Andhra Pradesh is well on the path to emerge a leader in smart urban governance and a reliable platform for sustainable development and enhanced quality of life.

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