Pune: Anticipating a surge in property registrations before the new Ready Reckoner rates take effect, the Maharashtra Registration and Stamps Department has extended the working hours of all sub-registrar offices across the state by two hours.
The decision, which comes into effect starting today (March 3), aims to reduce last-minute congestion and facilitate smoother property documentation.
Each year, the Maharashtra government announces new Ready Reckoner rates on March 31. These rates determine the official value of properties and subsequently impact stamp duty charges. If the rates increase, property buyers are required to pay higher stamp duty on registrations done from April 1 onward.
To avoid additional costs, a large number of citizens rush to complete their property registrations in the last week of March, leading to heavy congestion at sub-registrar offices in major cities. To manage this surge, the government has decided to extend office hours throughout March.
New Office Timings
As per the revised schedule, sub-registrar offices will now remain open until 8:15 PM instead of their usual closing time. This move will provide property buyers with additional time to complete their transactions, reducing last-minute delays and administrative backlogs.