Maharashtra Goes Digital: Land Bank to Unlock Affordable Housing

Today, Maharashtra’s government rolled out a housing policy with real teeth: a digital land bank of geo‑tagged, state‑owned parcels that unlock stalled supply and prioritize affordable housing across income groups . Here’s why that matters. Land banks aren’t new. State or local governments amassing land to push public goals has a proven track record. But the digital angle—applying mapping tech, digitized data, accessibility—changes the game. It turns planning from paperwork to tool rooted in real‑time visibility. For once, planning steers away from sprawling committees or political posturing. Digital land banks mitigate the mess of informal land markets, unclear ownership, and stalled approvals. If done right, this approach can scale affordable housing fast—and transparently. Tech isn’t a savior without governance. If those data get caught in red tape or if affordable targets slip, the whole promise fades. The key will be publishing how parcels get assigned, timelines, and accountability checks. Success here would let planners—and citizens—track the pipeline, understand bottlenecks, and advocate for speed. Still, this feels fresh. Digital, data‑driven planning is usually lauded in consultancies. But here, it’s being rolled out by government with affordable housing as the immediate payoff.