Despite the Survey and Settlement Commissionerate digitizing land records and linking the software systems of the revenue and registration departments to simplify patta transfers, residents in Chennai continue to face long delays. Several applicants said they have to wait weeks for title changes to reflect in their patta after registering a property. In the past, the patta transfer process was tedious for both buyers and sellers, requiring mandatory visits to the taluk office for land measurement and other record-related services. The system has since been moved online, reducing processing time and minimizing opportunities for corruption. Under the new setup, a title change in the patta is supposed to happen instantly—within a minute of registering a property—if no land subdivision is involved. Such cases result in a “fulfilled patta,” available for download at https://eservices.tn.gov.in. However, when a property involves subdivision and multiple buyers, the application is redirected to the local Village Administrative Officer (VAO) or surveyor, with a 30-day timeframe for completion. In practice, though, the system’s efficiency seems inconsistent. Lawyer and activist Sandhya Vedullapalli, who registered property in South Chennai in September, said she is still waiting for her updated patta. Likewise, Priya (name changed), who purchased an apartment in Perambur three months ago, has not received hers either. “This system seemed to work well initially,” Sandhya said. “But now, even after several weeks, patta transfers following registration are pending. It feels like the old issues of delays and indirect corruption have resurfaced.” An official from the Commissionerate clarified that in cases involving land subdivision, applications are routed to the VAO or surveyor, and pattas are expected to be issued within 30 days.

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