Raymond Ltd has announced that Raymond Realty Ltd, its real estate arm, will be listed on Indian stock exchanges in Q2 of the current financial year. The move follows a completed demerger, effective from May, which grants Raymond shareholders one share in Raymond Realty for each share held. With property sales reaching INR 2,310 crore last year, the realty division now operates as a standalone entity. This follows a similar listing of Raymond's lifestyle business in 2024. Backed by strong profits and a strategic focus on core sectors, the group aims to unlock value and strengthen its position in India's growing property market.Read more

ArisInfra Solutions Ltd, a tech-driven B2B firm in construction material procurement, is launching its IPO next week with a price band of INR 210-INR 222 per share. The issue, comprising only fresh equity shares worth INR 499.6 crore, values the company at nearly INR 1,800 crore. Funds will be used to boost working capital, invest in subsidiary Buildmex-Infra, acquire partial stakes in ArisUnitern Re Solutions, repay debt, and meet general expenses. The company has delivered over 10.35 million metric tonnes of materials through 1,458 vendors across 963 pin codes. Shares will list shortly after the issue, with JM Financial, IIFL Securities, and Nuvama as lead managers.Read more

Japan's Toyo Engineering Corporation and MODEC Inc have jointly inaugurated their Global Capability Centre-TOYO MODEC OFS India Pvt Ltd-in Bengaluru. Located in Godrej Centre, Indira Nagar, the 1,00,000 sq ft facility will support international Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) projects. Aimed at boosting innovation and delivery efficiency, the centre currently employs 200 professionals and plans to expand to 750 within three years. This move highlights India's role as a key engineering talent hub. Inaugurated by Japan's Consul General, the centre reflects deepening Indo-Japanese collaboration in energy and infrastructure, while creating high-value engineering and procurement jobs.Read more

Hyland, the creator of The Content Innovation Cloud, has inaugurated its new office in Hitech City, Hyderabad, reflecting a pivotal step in its global expansion drive. The new centre aims to serve as a strategic innovation hub, empowering Hyland to cater effectively to clients across the Asia Pacific region. The facility, which complements the company's existing presence in Kolkata, will focus on product development, customer success, and technical support while creating key employment opportunities and drawing from Hyderabad's vast tech talent pool.Read more

Incture, a prominent provider of AI and digital solutions for SAP clients, has inaugurated its latest facility the Trinoyon Digital Product & Technology Center, in Kolkata. Marking its sixth centre in India and second in Eastern India, this strategic expansion underlines Incture's ambitions to scale innovation and regional growth. The new hub, situated in Sector 5, Salt Lake, is expected to house over 300 employees within three years and will play a crucial role in the development of the AI-powered Cherrywork suite. The centre also aims to serve enterprise customers globally as an SAP implementation hub.Read more

Invest UP recently held a high-profile Global Capability Centres (GCC) conclave in Lucknow, unveiling its GCC Policy-2024 aimed at transforming Uttar Pradesh into a top destination for international GCCs. The one-day event attracted around 20 major firms including Microsoft, TCS, HCL, Standard Chartered Bank, and Trident who committed to expanding operations and new centres. Officials underscored UP's advantages: skilled young workforce, competitive costs (living and business), robust infrastructure and digital ecosystem, and incentive-rich policies. Investment roadmaps were discussed, including future conclaves in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, plus international roadshows to attract global capital.Read more

Amazon Development Centre India, along with its Seller Services unit, has leased over 1 million sq ft of office space in a tower near Kattigenahalli on Airport Road, North Bengaluru, for a monthly rent of INR 6.1 crore. The 10-year lease, signed via Sattva Horizon, began in October and includes a 15% rent escalation every three years, with no upfront deposit. The 11-floor building, located less than 30 minutes from the airport, can accommodate 6,000-7,000 employees, with Amazon paying INR 62.04 per sq ft for a carpet area of 714,000 sq ft. This large-scale commitment strengthens the commercial appeal of the Airport Road corridor, where residential rents for 2BHK units range from INR 20,000-25,000 and sale prices start at INR 80 lakh.Read more

SEBI has introduced a three-month settlement window for stock brokers involved in potential algorithmic trading violations. This applies to brokers who used third-party algo tools without approval or allowed client-side execution in breach of regulations. To qualify, brokers must admit default and pay penalties, with exclusions for those with prior SEBI penalties or ongoing cases. The move supports SEBI's ongoing efforts to regulate tech-driven trading and enforce stronger compliance standards. In a separate directive, SEBI has mandated that all legacy Venture Capital Funds (VCFs) transition to the Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) framework by mid-2025. A one-year grace period has been allowed for liquidation of expired schemes, after which no extensions will be granted. The AIF structure, introduced in 2012, offers enhanced oversight and transparency, and is now considered essential for managing India's evolving investment ecosystem.Read more

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has introduced a WhatsApp chatbot service, enhancing its digital initiatives to simplify civic interactions. Under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde, this tech-driven facility allows residents to access property tax and water bill information, and make payments directly via WhatsApp. Citizens can initiate the service by sending 'Hi' to the official chatbot number 8291920504. This innovation complements existing digital platforms such as the NMMC website and My NMMC app, along with payment modes like UPI, credit/debit cards, and mobile wallets.Read more

In a stringent move to uphold construction standards, the Haryana Irrigation Department has charge-sheeted 80 officials following the failure of 18 out of 48 tested material samples in various ongoing projects. The state's Water Resources Minister, Shruti Choudhry, underscored a zero-tolerance stance towards corruption and substandard materials, stating that officials will be held accountable, especially in projects nearing completion. The vigilance wing carried out surprise inspections after persistent complaints, signalling tighter oversight. The minister also highlighted the significance of the Kishau Dam, which is set to bolster Haryana's water supply for both drinking and irrigation purposes.Read more

Ecoboard Industries' EcoYou initiative has successfully transformed 22 million tonnes of agricultural waste into eco-friendly building materials, strengthening sustainable construction practices. With an investment of nearly USD 24 million (INR 205 crore) into rural supply chains, the initiative has benefited farmers, artisans, and carpenters significantly. The company has begun exporting these natural fibre-based EcoBoards to Europe and aims to expand production further. EcoYou has helped avoid around 116 million tonnes of CO? emissions and generated an economic impact worth USD 240 million (INR 2,050 crore) by fostering local employment and sustainable livelihoods, aligning with global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.Read more

Infosys has recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art development centre at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar, aimed at delivering cutting-edge digital solutions for global Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) clients. Designed to support over 1,000 employees operating in a hybrid model, this facility focuses on key areas such as digital banking, regulatory compliance, trade finance, and capital markets. By harnessing emerging technologies including AI, generative AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and blockchain, the centre is set to bolster India's role in the global financial technology ecosystem while creating significant employment opportunities in the region.Read more

Tribeca Developers has launched Trilive, a built-for-rent studio apartment project in Marol, Andheri, aimed at India's growing population of millennial professionals seeking premium rental housing. Despite strong demand, studio apartments form less than 0.5% of India's housing stock. Trilive addresses this gap by offering 650 tech-enabled, fully serviced units with modern amenities like rooftop lounges, co-working spaces, and private balconies. The project is managed by Housr, which operates over 75 properties across five cities, and promises investors a rental yield of over 6% with a nine-year leaseback. This marks one of India's largest managed rental housing ventures and reflects a strategic collaboration between Tribeca, Housr, and Starwing Group. With future plans to scale up to 8,000 beds across cities, Trilive combines premium urban living with hassle-free ownership-presenting a new standard in India's rental housing landscape.Read more

In a firm step toward enforcing urban development regulations, the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) launched a demolition drive earlier this week in Titwala, targeting illegal plinths and unauthorised structures. Acting under directives from senior civic officials, the operation was carried out despite local resistance. This move follows a wider pattern of strict administrative action by KDMC, which had previously suspended municipal staff over delayed responses to illegal developments. With parallel efforts like green initiatives and sanitation reforms, KDMC aims to realign growth with compliance in fast-expanding suburban pockets.Read more

Kalpataru Projects International Ltd (KPIL), along with its global subsidiaries, has recently secured new contracts worth INR 3,789 crore. The orders notably include the company's largest buildings and factories (B&F) contract to date in India, involving the development of over 12 million square feet of residential space on a design-and-build basis. Additionally, KPIL has secured orders in power transmission and distribution within overseas markets. This accomplishment reflects years of strategic efforts to enhance project acquisition capabilities and strengthen competitiveness through capital expenditure and execution expertise. KPIL continues to expand its presence, currently operating projects in over 30 countries worldwide.Read more

City Developments Ltd (CDL) has announced the sale of its stake in a prime office complex for USD 646 million. The move is part of CDL's ongoing asset optimisation strategy aimed at enhancing financial flexibility and funding future acquisitions. Management stated the divestment will help unlock capital for higher-yield opportunities, particularly as interest rates remain high. The company has a history of recycling mature or non-core assets, previously selling an Orchard Road mall and Sentosa residential units to strengthen its balance sheet. The sale also highlights strong investor demand for Grade-A office assets, with Singapore's office market showing resilience through low vacancies and stable rental growth. CDL plans to deploy the proceeds toward new developments and value-add acquisitions in local and international markets, positioning itself for agile growth amid evolving economic conditions.Read more

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced plans to create three more Odisha Development Authority (ODA) courts in order to speed up the resolution of building plan disputes within the BMC's boundaries. Currently, a single ODA court handles a significant backlog of approximately 7,000 cases. The expansion aims to decentralize the adjudication process, with each new court assigned to a specific zone. This initiative is expected to streamline the handling of violations related to construction beyond approved plans or deviations, providing a more efficient mechanism for residents to address grievances.Read more

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has upheld insolvency proceedings initiated against Jaypee Cement Corporation Ltd (JCCL), turning down an appeal that cited an unfulfilled debt restructuring arrangement as a defence. The tribunal ruled that JCCL remained independently liable for its debts, even though its parent company, Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL), had signed a Master Restructuring Agreement with lenders. It also clarified that parallel insolvency proceedings against JAL did not preclude similar action against JCCL, given the latter's role as guarantor for credit facilities. The case marks another setback for the troubled Jaypee Group.Read more

New World Development, a major Hong Kong-based property developer, announced the deferral of coupon payments amounting to USD 77.2 million on its perpetual bonds amid a mounting liquidity crisis. This move has spurred investor concerns, causing a fall in both share prices and bond values. The developer, grappling with one of the highest debt levels in the sector, is actively pursuing a refinancing deal worth HKD 87.5 billion to stabilise its finances. The decision to delay payments is viewed as a strategic attempt to conserve cash in a challenging market environment marked by falling property prices and rising borrowing costs.Read more

The Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) formalised a partnership with the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi, aimed at accelerating the city's urban development initiatives. The Memorandum of Understanding, endorsed under the supervision of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, will enable SPA Delhi to provide technical and academic expertise to help Sambalpur evolve into a model planned city. The collaboration includes comprehensive support in spatial planning, infrastructure design, heritage conservation, and sustainable urban development, alongside capacity-building programmes and field studies tailored to the city's unique cultural and geographical context.Read more