New Delhi: In a major push to curb land disputes, duplicate registrations and fraudulent property deals, the Delhi government has initiated the process of assigning a 14-digit Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) to every plot in the capital. Marketed as ‘Bhu-Aadhaar’, the system will provide a single digital reference containing ownership details, area, boundaries and GPS location of a land parcel.
Officials said the move is part of the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) and aims to reduce dependence on paper records, enhance transparency and tighten checks on land mafia operations.
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Why the system was needed
Boundary disputes and fake property transactions have long plagued Delhi’s real estate landscape. In several cases, the same plot has been registered multiple times or sold using incorrect maps, leading to prolonged litigation.
With ULPIN, every parcel will have a geo-referenced digital record, enabling instant verification of location and boundaries. This is expected to significantly reduce fraud during property transactions and allow banks, registration offices and other departments to access a unified database for due diligence.
Drone surveys and high-resolution mapping
The revenue department is preparing a comprehensive digital map of the city using drones and high-resolution imagery. Around 2 terabytes of geospatial data—including ortho-rectified images—have been sourced from the Survey of India.
Each plot will receive a geo-coded unique number linked to its exact coordinates, enabling seamless data sharing across departments and reducing manual entries.
Pilot shows promising results
A pilot project in Tilangpur Kotla village in West Delhi has already generated 274 ULPIN records, demonstrating the system’s feasibility. Additionally, 48 villages in Delhi have been covered under the Centre’s SVAMITVA scheme, where drone surveys and property cards were issued.
The rollout will now proceed in phases across the city. The first phase involved ₹1.32 crore in infrastructure spending, with further expansion planned under a standard operating procedure. A firm timeline, however, is yet to be finalised.
Benefits for citizens
Experts believe the biggest beneficiaries will be middle- and lower-income families, whose life savings often get locked in property disputes. Once implemented:
- A single ID will provide complete land details
- Paper documentation will be minimised
- Fake and duplicate registrations will be curbed
- Bank loans and title verification will become easier
- Pending court cases related to boundaries may decline
Boost to transparency and real estate confidence
The government expects that a fully digital, parcel-level land record will improve accountability and make property transactions safer. Buyers will be able to verify ownership and plot boundaries directly on digital maps, increasing trust in the real estate market.
Overall, the ‘Bhu-Aadhaar’ initiative is designed to move Delhi’s land governance from a paper-heavy, dispute-prone system to a digital, transparent and verifiable framework. If implemented on schedule, it could significantly reduce property conflicts and streamline land transactions in the capital.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
