TN revises model registration hub plan; sanctions ₹7.84 crore for five pilots

C Shivakumar @ CHENNAI:
The registration department has revised its plan to set up privately operated model registration hubs, by changing the locations of the proposed pilot centres, introducing a three-tier infrastructure model and altering the revenue-sharing arrangement between the Registration Department and private operators. It has also sanctioned Rs 7.84 crore for five hubs and extending their commissioning deadline to 180 days from the award of the contract.

According to Governmernt Order passed on October 28, the five model registration hubs will be located in Chennai North, Chennai Central, Chennai South, Chengalpattu and Coimbatore North, replacing the locations identified in the earlier tender — Ambattur, Thiruvanmiyur, T Nagar, Sriperumbudur and Coimbatore North.

The initiative shifts from a government-funded capital expenditure model to a managed-service arrangement under which a private operator will finance, establish, operate and maintain the facilities under a five-year contract. The operator will receive a fixed monthly fee determined through competitive bidding.

The Rs 7.84 crore allocation will also cover any shortfall if revenue from facilitation charges is insufficient to meet the operator's payments. The government has revalidated an earlier financial sanction for an Integrated Facilitation Centre in Chennai Central for this purpose.

Facilitation charges will remain Rs 2,000 for standard services, Rs 5,000 for Tatkal standard services, Rs 5,000 for premium services and Rs 10,000 for Tatkal premium services, apart from statutory stamp duty and registration fees.

Under the revised formula, the government will receive 80% of collections from standard and Tatkal standard services, while the operator will retain 20%. Revenue from premium services will be split equally. For Tatkal premium services, the government's share will be 65% and the operator's 35%.

Collections will be deposited into a dedicated account, with the operator's share paid first and the surplus adjusted against its monthly fee. Any deficit could be met from the sanctioned allocation.

The hubs will follow a three-tier infrastructure model based on registration volumes. The largest centres will have at least 8,000 sq ft and 20 workstations, the middle tier 5,000 sq ft and 15 workstations, and the smallest 3,000 sq ft and 10 workstations.

Facilities will include biometric verification, self-service kiosks, CCTV surveillance and digital queue management. The operator will be selected through a quality-cum-cost-based tender, with technical criteria carrying 70% of the score and the financial bid 30%.

Citizens will be able to register documents and marriages at the hubs irrespective of the jurisdiction of the relevant sub-registrar office. However, statutory approvals will remain with government officials.