CREDAI hails Andhra Pradesh government’s 22-A reforms

The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) has welcomed the Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to remove registration restrictions on five categories of land under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, terming it a major relief for landowners and the real estate sector.

CREDAI Visakhapatnam Chapter president E. Ashok Kumar said the decision would benefit farmers, individual landholders, and developers who had faced prolonged uncertainty. He said the removal of private patta lands from the prohibited list would help resolve long-pending issues and bring clarity to land transactions.

As per a government order issued on January 1, 2026, curbs on private patta lands have been lifted. Lands allotted to defence personnel, freedom fighters, and political victims have also been cleared, subject to verification. Mr. Ashok Kumar said the acceptance of a single recognised 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, he said, would help revive stalled projects and ensure genuine owners are not affected by isolated title disputes.

Section 22-A empowers the State to prohibit registration of certain lands. Over the years, large extents across Andhra Pradesh were brought under restrictions, freezing transactions even where ownership was clear. Revenue Department data show 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 65 to 70 acres in Bheemili, Gajuwaka, Anandapuram, and Pendurthi. CREDAI said the decision would revive transactions, improve confidence, ease bank financing, and reduce legal risks across regions.