Kolhapur 3D Drone Survey to Give 40,000 Owners Property Cards

Maharashtra has launched its first 3D Geographic Information System (GIS) drone-based property survey in Kolhapur, covering 4,223 hectares within the municipal limits.

The initiative aims to improve land record accuracy and provide digital maps and property cards to around 40,000 eligible property owners.

Led by the Survey of India, the project uses aerial photography to document property boundaries, measurements and locations with greater precision.

Kolhapur 3D Drone Survey Covers 4,223 Hectares

The survey began in June 2026 and resumed in September after being disrupted by strong winds and rainfall. It covers Kolhapur city and nearby areas, including Kasba Bawda, Kalamba, Temblaiwadi, Ujlaiwadi and Nave Balinge.

Of the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation's total area of 6,632 hectares, approximately 4,223 hectares have already been surveyed. Work is continuing across the remaining 2,409 hectares, including 1,805 hectares of newly extended municipal areas.

Officials expect the survey exercise to be completed within a month of the reported update. The initiative is intended to create a more detailed digital record of properties across the expanding city and its surrounding areas.

40,000 Property Owners Expected to Receive Digital Cards

Kolhapur currently has 45,621 property card holders. Following the survey, approximately 40,000 additional eligible property owners are expected to receive property cards based on the information collected.

The digital records will contain details about the exact boundaries, size and location of individual properties. This information is expected to help property owners and authorities access more precise land documentation.

For the real estate sector, reliable property records are important for ownership verification, property transactions and land-related administration.

More accurate digital maps could also help reduce confusion over property measurements and boundaries.

3D Aerial Photography Improves Property Measurement

The survey uses drones to capture detailed photographs of properties from different angles. Around 1.40 lakh photographs have already been collected through 100 drone flights.

Officials estimate that another 2.29 lakh images will be captured through the remaining 170 flights.

The drones are manufactured in Germany and can remain airborne for approximately one hour.

They survey properties within a radius of nearly 500 metres from an altitude of around 120 metres. Each flight captures approximately 1,350 photographs.

Survey teams photograph properties from all four sides to create detailed aerial records.

According to district superintendent of land records Shivajirao Bhosale, measurements are being collected with accuracy of approximately three centimetres.

Digital Property Records Could Help Resolve Boundary Disputes

One of the major objectives of the initiative is to reduce measurement errors and address long-standing property boundary disputes.

Accurate digital maps can provide clearer information about the extent and location of individual land parcels.

For property owners, this may help establish more reliable documentation when dealing with ownership records and boundary-related disagreements.

It could also assist the land records administration in maintaining updated information as urban areas expand.

The survey does not automatically resolve every ownership dispute. However, the detailed measurements and digital records are expected to provide authorities with better information when examining property boundaries.

Also Read: SVAMITVA Scheme Maps 3.30 Lakh Villages, Enables Loans

Drone Survey Data to Support Flood Planning

Beyond property documentation, the project will collect altitude information across the surveyed areas. This data can help authorities identify low-lying locations and natural drainage patterns.

Such information is expected to support flood mitigation and disaster management planning.

The additional geographical detail could help municipal authorities understand the physical characteristics of different parts of the city while planning future urban development.

Also Read: India Digitises Land Records With Maps, Drones and Bhu-Aadhaar

Key Takeaways

• Maharashtra's first 3D GIS drone property survey is underway in Kolhapur.
• The project has covered 4,223 hectares out of the municipal area's 6,632 hectares.
• Around 40,000 additional eligible property owners are expected to receive digital property cards.
• Approximately 1.40 lakh photographs have been collected through 100 drone flights.
• The digital survey aims to improve property boundary records, reduce measurement errors and support flood management planning.

Explore more property documentation and ownership resources through the home ownership guide.

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