Changes in Section 22-A Will Increase Size of Land Bank: CREDAI
This would provide a major relief for landowners and the real estate sector
Visakhapatnam: Welcoming the government decision to remove registration restrictions on five categories of land under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, the confederation of real estate developers’ associations of India (CREDAI) has said it would increase the land bank in Visakhapatnam.
“This would provide a major relief for landowners and the real estate sector,” said the president of the confederation’s city chapter, E Ashok Kumar.
The decision, he said, would benefit farmers, individual landholders and developers who faced prolonged uncertainty. The removal of private patta lands from the prohibited list would help resolve long-pending issues and bring clarity to land transactions, he said.
As per a GO issued on January 1, 2026, curbs on private patta lands have been lifted. Lands allotted to defense personnel, freedom fighters and political victims have also been cleared, subject to verification.
Ashok Kumar said the acceptance of a single recognized land record would simplify documentation and reduce delays for applicants.
"Developers have welcomed the decision to restrict prohibitions only to disputed portions of land instead of entire survey numbers. This correction would help revive stalled projects and ensure genuine owners are not affected by isolated title disputes,’’ Ashok Kumar told Deccan Chronicle.
He said section 22-A empowers the state to prohibit registration of certain lands. Over the years, large extents across AP were brought under restrictions, freezing transactions even where ownership was clear. Revenue department data showed that around 4.5 lakh acres were wrongly included earlier, while nearly 7,000 acres were registered despite existing curbs.
District-wise data for Visakhapatnam is yet to be released.
Earlier reports mentioned disputed parcels of about 750 acres under Simhachalam Devasthanam, 65 to 70 acres in Bheemili, Gajuwaka, Anandapuram and Pendurthi.
Ashok Kumar said the decision would revive transactions, improve confidence, ease bank financing and reduce legal risks across regions.