Geo referenced number for bangalore properties

Bengaluru to pioneer 10-digit geo-referenced property number in India In first of its kind initiative in India, properties in Bengaluru would soon get a 10-digit geo-referenced number. Each property would get a unique number which would be geo-referenced based on the latitude and longitude of the property. According to sources this would be a unique number and can also act as your property address as well.

Expected to be effective by year end, this new system would replace the existing Property Identification (PID) number. The current system follows unscientific numbering and according to civic authorities is complicated and often leads to errors. The existing PID numbering system includes the ward number, street number and door number of the property, all of which can change over the years. If the government changes ward numbers then all the PID numbers change and authorities then have to issue new numbers for all the properties. This won’t happen if properties are geo referenced as latitude and longitude of the properties is constant.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike (BBMP) was formed in 2008. All the properties in Bengaluru as of now have two sets of PID’s, one which was issues before 2008 and the second one which was issued after BBMP was formed in 2008. Also the existing PID database is not linked with other databases like

Khata, ownership and encumbrance documents, GIS database, plan sanction, tax receipts, utility services, Bescom or BWSSB databases. Since all the property related data bases would be linked, the end result would be increased tax compliance in the city.

One of the biggest advantages of following the geo referenced system is that it would increase the property tax base for Bengaluru properties as over 100 lakh properties would be assigned new numbers. Currently only 25 lakh properties are part of the PID database. Also, this method would be error proof for property tax payments and would eliminate common errors like tax payment going into another account.

The new ten digit numbering system was suggested by the BBMP Restructuring Committee. To issue the new numbers the civic authorities are awaiting mounting of the GIS-enabled Property Tax Information System on the Bhuvan platform of Indian Space Research Organisation. Work on the same was expected to begin on 1st April 2017 and the project was announced in the BBMP budget.

Reference for this system is a similar system of unique property numbers which is being followed in Singapore which can be used as the address of the property. These numbers can be tracked on map using geo coordinates and hence can be used by Singapore residents to book cabs or couriers and other related services. Civic authorities in Bengaluru also expect the new numbers to reach such efficiency in years to come.

This is a great initiative by Bengaluru civic authorities and it comes at the right time as the central government is working towards digital India. If it’s a success then many other states would also get motived to follow similar property numbering systems.