Loni to Digitally Map Nearly 3 Lakh Properties Using Drone Cameras

• Nearly 3 lakh properties across Loni’s 55 wards will be digitally mapped.
• Each mapped property is proposed to receive a location-linked Unique Identification Number.
• The database could support property tax collection, infrastructure planning, emergency response and encroachment monitoring.

Ghaziabad: Nearly three lakh properties in Loni, Ghaziabad, are expected to be mapped through a large-scale digital survey using drone cameras, GPS and GIS technology. The exercise is planned across all 55 municipal wards and is expected to begin in October or November 2026, depending on the completion of the tender process and selection of the agency.

The project matters because it could give the municipal body a much clearer record of properties, land use and civic infrastructure while helping identify properties that are currently outside the property-tax network.

The proposed mapping will cover residential and commercial buildings, shops, vacant plots and other land parcels. Once the survey is completed, every mapped property is expected to be assigned a Unique Identification Number (UID) connected to its location. The digital system is also intended to help authorities understand where civic infrastructure is lacking and improve the way municipal services are planned and delivered.

Under the proposed arrangement, the agency selected for the project will have around one year to complete the mapping exercise. The municipality has already initiated the tender process, with fieldwork targeted for October or November.

The project will combine aerial drone imagery with GPS and GIS data to develop a detailed digital map of Loni. A three-dimensional representation of the municipal area is also planned as part of the exercise.

After the initial survey, software maintenance is proposed for another year so that the digital property database can continue to be managed and updated.

A key component of the project is the proposed Unique Identification Number for individual properties. Linking property records with geographic coordinates could make it easier for municipal officials to identify specific buildings and plots.

The system could also have practical applications during emergencies. In densely populated areas and narrow lanes, locating an exact property can sometimes be difficult for emergency services. A GPS-linked digital database could help fire and ambulance teams identify locations more efficiently when responding to incidents.

The mapping exercise will not be limited to constructed properties. Officials also plan to digitally record different categories of land, including ponds, lakes, green areas, industrial zones, vacant land and designated access routes.

Such information could help authorities compare the planned use of land with its actual development. The digital records may also assist in identifying unauthorised construction, encroachments and changes in land use.

The data is proposed to be shared with the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA), which could use the information to monitor unauthorised development. This may be particularly relevant in areas where agricultural land has been converted into residential development without proper planning or approvals.

The project is also closely linked to Loni’s property-tax system. At present, the municipal body reportedly collects property tax from around 1.43 lakh properties and generates approximately Rs 18 crore in annual revenue from them.

By creating a comprehensive digital property register, the survey could help officials identify properties that are not currently included in the tax system. If additional properties are brought under taxation, the municipality could potentially increase its revenue base.

The expanded database could also provide information about neighbourhood-level infrastructure requirements, including water supply, sewerage and road conditions. Authorities could use this data to identify areas where civic improvements are required.

For residents, the proposed digital survey could make property records more systematic and easier for authorities to locate. A UID-based system could eventually provide a common digital reference for properties across the municipal area.

However, the effectiveness of the project will depend on the accuracy of the survey, verification of property information and how the resulting database is used. The project has not yet reached full implementation and remains dependent on the tender process and appointment of the surveying agency.

The Loni municipal body is expected to complete the tendering and agency-selection process before fieldwork begins. If the proposed timeline is maintained, the drone-based survey could start in October or November 2026.

Once the mapping is completed, the municipality is expected to use the resulting GIS- and GPS-based database for property identification, tax administration, infrastructure planning and coordination with other government agencies.

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