Online conversion a hit with residents

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) that gets almost 600 applications every month for the conversion of properties, is receiving almost double the number of applications per day.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) that gets almost 600 applications every month for the conversion of properties, is receiving almost double the number of applications per day. All due to the online conversion from leasehold to freehold launched on Friday.

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DDA has developed a software for the online process which is expected to make the conversion transparent and free from tout involvement.

"The online submission of applications for conversion started on Friday and by Saturday morning and we had received 44 applications. Considering that on average we used to get about 20 applications a day, the response to the online system has been very good," said VS Tomar, Director (Systems).

Around 7,000 people visit the DDA headquarters on public hearing days and most of them come for the conversion of properties. Though officially the process should take 90 days, applicants end up spending years frequenting the DDA office and also end up paying bribes to expedite the process.

Earlier, applicants had to visit the the DDA to buy a brochure, which can now be downloaded for free. The applicant can

register online and get a unique user id and password. "All required documents have to be scanned and uploaded and action on the case begins immediately," he said.

Tomar said that after one applies online for a conversion, all the concerned departments and sections of the DDA act on the document at the same time.

"Any deficiencies in the application are checked and the applicant is informed through an SMS and an email immediately. Earlier, DDA used to inform them through post, which took a lot of time," Tomar said.

After your documents are approved, a challan is issued and you can make an online payment. Only after the application is finally approved, the applicant has to visit the DDA headquarter along with original documents and get the conveyance deed.