The Union minority affairs ministry is gearing up to seek Cabinet approval for a ₹1,000-crore blueprint to commercially redevelop high-value waqf properties in major Indian cities. This national plan targets underutilised waqf land for hospitals, commercial towers, educational institutions, and housing complexes through joint ventures with state waqf boards, NAWADCO, and private developers. IIT Delhi is advising on land-pooling structures, concession frameworks, and unified contracts that ensure revenue-sharing or long-term leases while keeping the waqf character intact.
The push comes even as the UMEED portal data shows only 216,905 of an estimated 8 lakh waqf properties fully registered by the December 6 deadline, with 517,000 uploads initiated but 213,941 stuck and 10,872 rejected. Union minister Kiren Rijiju ruled out extending the six-month window but offered a three-month grace period without penalties for mutawallis to complete registrations. NAWADCO, the nodal PSU set up in 2013, will identify plots, assess feasibility, onboard investors, and structure deals compliant with waqf laws.
UMEED Portal Reveals Massive Registration Gap:
The UMEED central portal closed uploads on December 6 after the Supreme Court refused an extension, mandated by the Waqf Amendment Act 2025. Of 517,000 initiated entries, just 216,905 got approved, leaving nearly 300,000 pending or incomplete-a backlog expected to flood waqf tribunals in early 2026. Uttar Pradesh, with the largest waqf estate, started 86,345 uploads but saw low completion: Shia Waqf Board at 789 (5%) and Sunni at 12,982 (11%).
Maharashtra fared better with 17,971 approvals out of 36,700 (48%), but issues like outdated records, missing maps, conflicting claims, and vanished landmarks plague verification nationwide. Bihar stood out, but most states struggled with physical re-surveys needed for digitisation. The gap directly impacts redevelopment, as clear titles are essential for NAWADCO and developers to proceed. Rijiju’s grace period aims to ease mutawalli concerns without formal extension, buying time amid litigation risks.
Joint Redevelopment Model Targets Scalable Projects:
The blueprint, headed to the Expenditure Finance Committee in January, shifts from fragmented efforts to a national pipeline of waqf projects. Private partners will build on approved plots via revenue-sharing leases, replacing idle land with income-generating assets that sustain waqf purposes. IIT Delhi’s input covers pooling multiple small plots, standardised concessions, and contracts handling tribunal delays over five to seven years.
NAWADCO leads as project developer, ensuring statutory compliance while waqf boards retain oversight. Focus stays on prime urban sites in metros, where underuse drains potential revenue for charitable ends. The 2025 Waqf Amendment overhauled the 1995 Act for better management, mandating UMEED registration upheld by the Supreme Court, which barred third-party rights until tribunal resolutions.
Litigation and Phased Rollout Ahead:
Phased redevelopment results from pending registrations, with approved properties being developed first and disputed ones going through tribunals. Contracts contain provisions for legal safeguards, staggered approvals, and uncertainty. Officials see the strategy releasing waqf riches in the long run, but they expect years of simultaneous court battles and building.
Waqf, an Islamic endowment for religious or public good, holds vast estates often mismanaged. The plan aligns with government pushes for transparency post-amendment, despite opposition cries over control. As tribunals gear up, the ₹1,000-crore fund promises structured monetisation without eroding waqf essence.
