Port Blair, November 5: For years, residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have sought a simpler and faster process for converting land for residential, commercial, or agricultural purposes — a procedure often slowed by manual scrutiny, paperwork, and multiple office visits. That long-standing demand has now been met with a major digital push by the Administration aimed at cutting delays and red tape.
The initiative marks another milestone in the Administration’s broader digital governance programme, which aims to integrate more public services into the Dweep Bhoomi platform in the coming months.
Residents can now access the service through the official portal — https://dweepbhoomi.andamannicobar.gov.in.
With the launch, the A&N Administration has taken a decisive step toward building a responsive, transparent, and citizen-centric governance model — ensuring that what once required endless paperwork can now be completed with just a few clicks.
Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, Chief Secretary, A&N Islands, virtually launched the Online Land Diversion Module, integrated with the Dweep Bhoomi Portal. The new facility enables citizens to apply for land use change online, track their application status, and receive approvals electronically — marking a significant step in modernizing land governance in the Islands.
“This initiative is a testament to our dedication to improving service delivery through technology,” Dr. Kumar said at the launch. “The services will empower citizens by providing easy access to land diversion facilities, eliminating the need for physical visits, and saving valuable time and resources.”
Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), South Andaman District, the online module is part of a wider deregulation and compliance reduction drive initiated under the directions of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. The move aligns with the national focus on improving ease of doing business and streamlining government processes through digital transformation.
Under the new system, applicants can log into the Dweep Bhoomi Portal, upload documents, and track their files in real time. Officials said the interface will ensure transparency, reduce physical file movement, and make the approval process faster and more accountable.
The Chief Secretary underlined that the Administration’s emphasis remains on leveraging technology to enhance ease of living for islanders. “Such digital tools bring the government closer to citizens and ensure that processes once seen as tedious become efficient, transparent, and time-bound,” he said.
Officials also noted that the initiative assumes special significance in the context of the Islands’ geography, where distance and connectivity constraints often make physical submission of documents cumbersome and time-consuming.
Until now, citizens seeking land conversion had to navigate multiple departments, submit hard copies of documents, and wait several weeks — or even months — for clearance. The new Online Land Diversion Module replaces that with a single-window digital process designed to simplify and speed up decision-making.
