CTS Number Explained: How City Survey Numbers Identify Urban Land in Maharashtra
- CTS (City Survey/Cadastral Town Survey) Number is the unique identifier assigned to a specific plot of urban land under Maharashtra’s City Survey system — functionally the urban equivalent of a rural survey/gat number.
- Every Property Card, urban land record, and municipal correspondence about a specific urban plot references its CTS number as the primary identifier.
- CTS numbers are assigned within a specific city’s or division’s survey system — a duplicate-looking number in a different city or division refers to an entirely different plot.
- The CTS number is essential for looking up a Property Card, checking building permissions, verifying redevelopment eligibility, or confirming a property’s precise legal identity.
- CTS numbers can sometimes be sub-divided (e.g., CTS No. 145/A, 145/B) when a larger plot is split — buyers should confirm which specific sub-division applies to the property being purchased.
Reading time: 6 min | Last updated: July 2026 | By Girish Chhalwani, Founder & CEO, THE EDGE Developments
The CTS (City Survey/Cadastral Town Survey) Number is the unique identifier assigned to every urban land parcel in Maharashtra’s City Survey system, functioning as the urban counterpart to the survey or gat number used for rural land. Whether you’re checking a Property Card, verifying redevelopment eligibility, or simply confirming a plot’s exact legal identity, the CTS number is the reference point everything else is built around — and getting it wrong (or confusing it with a similar-looking number from a different division) is a common and avoidable due-diligence mistake.
What Is a CTS Number?
Under Maharashtra’s City Survey system, urban areas — Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Nashik, and other City Surveyed municipal areas — have their land parcels mapped and numbered individually, distinct from the rural survey/gat number system used for agricultural and non-City-Surveyed land. Each parcel receives a CTS number, which becomes its permanent legal reference for Property Card lookups, municipal correspondence, and property transactions.
CTS Number vs Survey/Gat Number
| Identifier | Where Used | Associated Record |
|---|---|---|
| CTS Number | Urban, City Surveyed areas | Property Card |
| Survey/Gat Number | Rural and semi-urban areas | 7/12 Extract |
As Maharashtra’s 2026 land record reform (see our guide on the 7/12-to-Property Card transition) extends the CTS-based Property Card system into more areas, understanding CTS numbers is becoming relevant for a growing share of buyers beyond the traditionally urban core.
Why the CTS Number Matters for Buyers
- Unique identity, but not globally unique. CTS numbers are unique within their specific division/ward, but the same number can exist in a different division or city referring to a completely different plot — always confirm the division alongside the CTS number.
- Basis for Property Card lookup. Any search for an urban property’s ownership, area, or encumbrance status starts with the correct CTS number and division.
- Redevelopment and building permission reference. Municipal building permission applications, redevelopment consents, and society records all reference the CTS number as the property’s core legal identity.
- Sub-division tracking. When a larger plot is split (for sale, inheritance, or partial development), sub-divisions are typically denoted with a suffix (e.g., 145/A, 145/B) — buyers should confirm exactly which sub-division corresponds to the unit being purchased.
“I’ve seen buyers get confused because they searched a CTS number without specifying the division, and pulled up the wrong property’s records entirely — numbers repeat across divisions. Always confirm CTS number together with division and ward before you treat any lookup as gospel.” — Girish Chhalwani, Founder & CEO, THE EDGE Developments
How to Find a Property’s CTS Number
- Check the property’s existing Property Card, sale deed, or municipal tax receipt — the CTS number is typically printed on all of these.
- If unavailable, visit the relevant City Survey office or use the Mahabhumi Property Card portal, searching by address, owner name, or approximate location to identify the CTS number.
- Always note the associated division/ward alongside the CTS number itself, since the number alone is not sufficient to uniquely identify the property citywide.
FAQ
What does CTS number mean?
CTS stands for City Survey/Cadastral Town Survey — it’s the unique identifier assigned to urban land parcels under Maharashtra’s City Survey system.
Is CTS number the same as survey number?
No — survey/gat numbers apply to rural and semi-urban land tied to 7/12 extracts, while CTS numbers apply to urban, City Surveyed land tied to Property Cards.
Can the same CTS number exist in two different places?
Yes — CTS numbers are unique within their specific division/ward, so the same number in a different division refers to an entirely different property. Always confirm the division too.
Where do I find my property’s CTS number?
It’s typically printed on the Property Card, sale deed, or municipal tax receipt; if unavailable, the City Survey office or Mahabhumi portal can help locate it.
What does a CTS number with a suffix like “145/A” mean?
It indicates a sub-division of the original plot, typically created when a larger parcel was split for sale, inheritance, or partial development.
Do I need the CTS number for redevelopment projects?
Yes — redevelopment consents, building permissions, and society records all reference the CTS number as the property’s core legal identifier.
Citations & Sources
- Mahabhumi Property Records Portal — mahabhumi.gov.in
- Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966
Related Reading
- Property Card (Malmatta Patrak) Explained: Urban Land Records in Maharashtra
- Mumbai City vs Mumbai Suburban: Two Districts, Two Different Land Record Systems
Verifying an Urban Plot’s Legal Identity? Start With the Right CTS Number
THE EDGE Developments confirms CTS numbers, divisions, and Property Card details accurately on every urban property we recommend.
connect@theedgedevelopments.com | Phone: +91-9664662938