Mumbai, April 29 -- The Maharashtra government has finalised a private agency to operate 60 private stamp duty and registration offices across the state, offering additional facilities and a better ambience. This move is seen as a step toward privatising the established network of 517 registration and stamp duty offices, similar to the privatisation of passport registration offices. Last week, the revenue department issued a work order to the private firm, VFS Global Services, to set up and manage stamp duty offices across the state. The firm is expected to provide better ambience and facilities in the offices for an extra cost of Rs.5,218 per registration. The first phase - comprising 30 centres - will begin in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur and Nashik in the coming months. "The decision to appoint a private firm was based on demand from some stakeholders. Some registration offices are in very poor condition, lacking proper seating and restroom facilities. Homebuyers in plush areas of cities like Mumbai, Thane, and Pune, as well as executives coming to register documents from corporate offices, expect these offices to be well-equipped and enabled with facilities. We expect the private firm to cater to this class of clients," said an official from the revenue department. A committee headed by chief secretary Rajesh Aggarwal approved the work order for the company as it quoted the lowest amount. "The bid also included the condition of profit sharing if the private firm registers more than a specific number of documents per month," the official said. "A sub registrar and an office assistant from the revenue department will lead the company officials." A total of 517 stamp duty and registration offices are run by the government across the state. However, there were multiple complaints about the shabby conditions in these offices. Hence, the government released Rs.10 lakh per building for refurbishment of 100 offices. Some of the Mumbai offices underwent refurbishment under a few city builders. This eventually led to the decision to hand over operations to a private entity. "If the first phase is successful, the second phase will follow," the official said. "This may lead to the closure of all government offices for stamp duty and registration."...