Maharashtra privatises 60 stamp duty offices; private firm to operate with enhanced facilities

The government has finalised a private agency to operate 60 private stamp duty and registration offices across Maharashtra, promising better ambience and facilities at an extra cost. The second phase will be rolled out depending on the success of the first phase. The article notes that the government had previously released ₹10 lakh per building for refurbishment of 100 offices, with some Mumbai offices refurbished by builders; this refurbishment effort underpins the push toward private offices as the number of private offices increases.

The Maharashtra revenue department issued a work order to private firm VFS Global Services to set up and manage 60 private stamp duty and registration offices across the state. The first phase will comprise 30 centres and begin in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur and Nashik in the coming months. The firm will charge an additional ₹5,218 per registration to provide better ambience and facilities. The bid was approved by a committee headed by Chief Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, which selected the firm based on the lowest quotation. The arrangement includes profit sharing if the firm registers more than a specified number of documents per month; a sub-registrar and an office assistant from the revenue department will supervise the private office staff.