KOCHI: Land registrations in the state have been declining for more than a decade, falling by 32.37%, from 13.1 lakh in 2011–12 to 8.86 lakh in 2023–24. The registration of sale deeds (outright land sales), the biggest revenue generator of registration department, has also witnessed a sharp decline, dropping by 42.54%, from 7.47 lakh in 2011–12 to 4.29 lakh in 2023–24, according to data from the department.
Despite the drop in land registrations, periodic increases in fair value have helped ensure a steady rise in revenue. Since its implementation on April 1, 2010, the fair value of land has increased by 264%, according to department data. With a fair value of Rs 1.31 crore per are (2.47 cents), Jos Junction in Kochi now holds the distinction of having the highest fair value for land in the state, according to a senior department official.
“The department’s revenue collection is expected to touch Rs 5,500 crore this fiscal. As per data available until the end of Feb 2025, we have collected Rs 5,013 crore. The corresponding figure for Feb 2024 was Rs 4,627 crore,” said minister for registration Kadannappally Ramachandran. The state govt has set a collection target of Rs 6,382 crore for the department for 2024–25.
The registration department, the second-highest contributor to the state exchequer, recorded its highest contribution of Rs 5,662 crore in 2022–23. “Land registrations surged in Feb and March 2023 after the govt announced that the fair value of land will increase by 20% from the next fiscal. This helped us achieve the highest-ever revenue collection. However, the registration of title deeds has been showing a steep decline over the years. At present, the registration of land parcels for housing purposes — typically around five cents — constitutes a major share of total land registrations in the state,” said Sreedhanya Suresh, inspector general of registration. However, she added that the department remains uncertain about the reasons for the decline in registrations. Currently, around 4,500–5,000 registrations take place daily at each sub-registrar office in the state.
