The Chandigarh administration has cleared Adarsh Colony, an informal settlement between Sectors 53 and 54, reclaiming 12 acres of government land valued at INR 350 crore. Around 800 structures were demolished in the drive, part of a broader campaign to make the city slum-free. Officials said the area was under illegal occupation for 2.5 years, despite relocation offers to eligible families. Earlier this year, Janta Colony and Sanjay Colony were also cleared, bringing the total reclaimed land to over 500 acres from 18 major slums. Only Shahpur Colony remains, with future action planned. The campaign supports Chandigarh's original planned city vision.Read more

Institutional investments in Indian real estate dropped by 37% to USD 3.06 billion in the first half of 2025, largely due to global economic uncertainty and geopolitical instability, according to JLL. Foreign investors made up 68% of the total inflows, while domestic investors contributed 32%. Despite the dip, JLL highlighted the sector's resilience and noted continued investor participation via REITs, QIPs, and listed entities. The housing segment attracted the highest share at 38%. A pipeline of deals exceeding USD 1 billion indicates potential recovery in the coming months.Read more

The Allahabad High Court has reinstated 100 acres of land to the Royal Golf Link City project, overturning its cancellation by GNIDA. The court found GNIDA's revocation flawed, especially since the developer had paid INR 56 crore and was penalised for procedural lapses not of its own making. Crucially, GNIDA allotted land before fully acquiring it from farmers, creating legal confusion. The court ruled that allotments must follow proper acquisition, leading to the suspension of three senior GNIDA officials for negligence. The verdict is expected to influence future land-related disputes and highlights the judiciary's stance on upholding procedural integrity in public land deals.Read more

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has constituted a special committee to digitise and regularly audit its land assets listed on the MCG Asset Management System (MAMS) portal. This move comes amid concerns over inconsistencies and missing records particularly for over 740 plots currently marked 'under verification' out of a total 3,119 properties. The panel, chaired by the chief town planner, includes officials from the planning, revenue, and property tax departments. Weekly reviews, inter-departmental coordination, and timely resolution of documentation gaps have been mandated. The initiative aligns with Haryana's new municipal auction policy to monetise public assets via digital platforms.Read more

A major land scam has been uncovered in Jaipur, where 62-year-old Jagdish Narayan Sharma was arrested for defrauding 151 people by selling illegal plots using forged lease documents. The fraudulent sales took place in an unauthorised colony Parshvanath Enclave Extension in Sanganer under the guise of a legitimate housing society. The matter came to light when an 82-year-old victim reported the scam after realising the land he purchased in 2005 was still occupied by farmers. Sharma is accused of evading arrest for years and using political influence to silence victims. Police confirmed his arrest is part of a wider crackdown on land mafia activity.Read more

The Odisha government is undertaking a comprehensive reform to simplify its outdated and overly complex land classification and ownership systems. With more than 7,000 land-use types and nearly 3,000 forms of land ownership rooted in colonial-era laws, the administration is now streamlining these into 27 use categories and a simplified set of ownership types. This initiative aims to bring transparency, legal clarity, and administrative efficiency. Additional reforms, including updated property conversion fees, new urban planning regulations, and legal safeguards for SC/ST land rights, complement this overhaul. The state is also repealing obsolete statutes and responding to recent judicial guidance on land titles.Read more

The Noida administration recently demolished an unauthorised farmhouse and swimming pool built on 2,000-sqm of panchayat land in Dalelpur village, valued at around INR 2.2 crore. The land has now been reclaimed for constructing a panchayat office and a polling booth. The demolition is part of a larger anti-encroachment drive across Noida, including crackdowns on illegal structures in the Yamuna floodplains and other rural zones, with authorities reclaiming nearly 10,000 sqm of notified land in earlier actions.Read more

The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) of Brihanmumbai has introduced SoftTech Engineers' AutoDCR Online Building Permission System to digitalise and expedite the approval process for slum redevelopment projects. Designed to replace traditional manual procedures, this automation aims to reduce processing time, enhance transparency, and ensure regulatory compliance. Developed by SoftTech Engineers Limited, a pioneer in AEC tech solutions, the platform enables online submission and scrutiny of building plans. The initiative reflects SRA's broader commitment to technological integration for better urban governance and improved living conditions in rehabilitation zones.Read more

Major Indian cities are facing growing aviation safety risks due to a surge in illegal high-rises that breach height regulations near airports. In Kolkata, over 50 such buildings have been flagged for endangering aircraft during take-offs and landings. Similar concerns plague Nagpur, where 60 non-compliant structures await action despite 500 notices issued as far back as 2017. The situation is even more alarming in Lucknow, where an AAI survey identified over 600 buildings violating height norms within a 10-km radius. These widespread breaches expose gaps in real-time NOC verification, poor coordination between civic bodies and airport authorities, and weak regulatory enforcement.Read more

Cube Highways Trust has finalised the acquisition of two strategic highway assets in Jammu and Kashmir Quazigund Expressway Pvt Ltd and Athaang Jammu Udhampur Highway Pvt Ltd from the National Infrastructure Investment Fund. The deal, valued at INR 4,185 crore, spans approximately 80 kilometres and includes assets with over six years of remaining concession life. These highways offer assured semi-annual annuity payments from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), reducing exposure to traffic-linked risks. The Trust anticipates an accretive impact on its distributable cash flows of INR 2.3 per unit annually.Read more

Goa's cabinet has approved a comprehensive Heritage Policy designed to safeguard and celebrate the state's cultural, historical and natural treasures. The new framework sets clear rules for maintenance, restoration and promotion across 14 priority areas, covering everything from ancient monuments and churches to festivals, crafts and oral traditions. Key measures include unifying scattered heritage laws, bringing private heritage bungalows into conservation and tourism plans, and aligning Goa&'s efforts with global best practices. The policy promises financial and technical support, plus awards for private owners, and launches a digital documentation programme to record and share heritage assets worldwide, securing them for future generations.Read more

The Andhra Pradesh government is moving to repeal the NALA Act (2006), which regulates converting agricultural land for non-agricultural use. This major shift aims to simplify and speed up the process by allowing automatic land conversion upon tax payment-removing the need for repeated visits to government offices. The decision follows widespread complaints from citizens and developers about the existing system's complexity. Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu announced the move during a recent collectors' conference, with officials now preparing guidelines for a smooth transition. The repeal is expected to ease development, reduce red tape, and encourage investment across urban and industrial sectors.Read more

Madhya Pradesh authorities have ramped up anti-encroachment drives, pulling down illegal structures to reclaim public land in key cities. In Khandwa, crews demolished around 100 unauthorized houses built near Shakkar pond after four months of notices; only homes protected by court stay orders were spared. In Ujjain, officials targeted the Begum Bagh area close to the Mahakaleshwar temple, razing seven buildings whose leases had been cancelled by the Ujjain Development Authority for violations. Such crackdowns are common across India, aimed at freeing land for planned development, easing pressure on civic infrastructure and addressing safety and legal concerns. The push shows resolve to enforce zoning laws and return assets to citizens.Read more

Uttar Pradesh is fast emerging as a preferred destination for commercial offices and industrial units, thanks to competitive incentives, policy clarity, and a robust business ecosystem. During a recent seminar hosted by Invest UP, top government officials highlighted the state's proactive investment policies and infrastructure readiness. Key announcements included the proposal for a Noida-like city in Bundelkhand and plans for future Global Capability Centre (GCC) events to attract domestic and global investors. The seminar witnessed participation from tech leaders, policymakers, and multinational investors, reinforcing UP's position on the global investment map.Read more

The central government has issued a new advisory urging states and union territories to integrate Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) into long-term urban governance frameworks. Originally created under the Smart Cities Mission, these entities are now expected to sustain themselves by offering consultancy and services. The advisory highlights that SPVs can manage citywide data analytics and system operations, while ICCCs should serve as permanent urban nerve centres under urban development departments. With over 93% of the 8,000+ mission projects completed and 99.44% of the INR 48,000 crore budget disbursed, the mission has made notable progress. However, the government is now focusing on institutionalising these tools to ensure cities retain and build upon digital and operational advancements. This marks a shift from short-term implementation to long-term sustainability, aiming to equip cities with robust governance mechanisms for future urban challenges.Read more

The Odisha government has notified the 'Odisha Development Authorities (Planning and Building Standards) Second Amendment Rules, 2025,' addressing long-standing challenges around part plot registrations. Key changes include exemptions for family-based sub-divisions from layout approvals and a one-time relief allowing sub-division of plots under 500 sq. m without development authority clearance, provided they aren't for commercial use. Agricultural plots are also exempted from layout rules if land use remains unchanged. The amendment simplifies benchmark value calculations by accepting self-attested valuations downloaded from the Inspector General of Revenue's website. For industrial projects outside urban areas, a minimum road width of 6 metres is now mandatory. Commercial development norms have been relaxed, with ground coverage limits removed and setback exemptions granted for plots up to 4,000 sq. m. The changes aim to streamline approvals, promote planned development, and enhance land use efficiency across the state.Read more

Property owners in Bengaluru can now obtain e-Khata certificates digitally within two working days, thanks to a new initiative by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The fully online process, rolled out across all eight BBMP zones, allows applications via the state's SAKALA portal. Applicants need only submit three documents: sale deed, latest tax-paid receipt, and property sketch. Revenue officers are required to process requests or raise queries within two days, improving accountability. The e-Khata is essential for property validation, tax payments, loans, and transactions. Previously, the process involved lengthy in-person visits and delays. The move particularly benefits owners of properties regularised under the Akrama-Sakrama scheme. By digitising the system, BBMP aims to enhance transparency and ease for property owners, buyers, and developers, fostering greater confidence in municipal services.Read more

The Ayodhya district administration has revised circle rates for the first time in eight years, with property values rising by 30% to 200% across various localities. The sharpest hikes are seen within a 10-km radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, where rates have increased over 150%, reflecting growing demand driven by religious tourism and infrastructure projects. Localities like Rakaabganj, Devkali, and Avadh Vihar now rank among the most expensive in the district. The revised rates-ranging from INR 26,600 to INR 27,900 per sq. metre in temple zones-are based on land usage and transaction history. Officials say the update improves transparency and aligns with market trends. The change also affects stamp duty, loan appraisals, and compensation in land acquisition cases. With ongoing developments including roads, hotels, and an international airport, Ayodhya is emerging as a key real estate and pilgrimage hub.Read more

The Uttar Pradesh government has successfully completed 29 significant irrigation projects over the past eight years, enhancing irrigation capacity by more than 19 lakh hectares and directly benefiting over 4.3 million farmers statewide. This large-scale initiative has not only bolstered agricultural productivity but also contributed substantially to flood control and water conservation efforts. Among the completed ventures are seven major projects, including the Bansagar Canal and Lahchura Dam, spanning multiple districts. Additionally, medium and small-scale projects have further expanded irrigation reach, positively impacting tens of thousands of farmers and strengthening the region's agrarian infrastructure.Read more

The Delhi government has announced plans to appoint a concessionaire for the redevelopment and management of the Bhorgarh Industrial Area (Bawana Phase II), alongside establishing project management units (PMUs) for nine additional industrial zones. Building on the success of public-private partnerships (PPP) in Bawana and Narela, this initiative aims to transform Bhorgarh into a model industrial zone characterised by cleanliness, safety, and eco-conscious infrastructure. The comprehensive redevelopment will include smart lighting, CCTV surveillance, pothole-free roads, and stormwater drainage. Further emphasising sustainability, the Delhi State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) is set to plant 85,000 green units during the 2025-26 period to foster a greener industrial environment.Read more