The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has commenced direct land purchases for its ambitious Harnandipuram township project, covering over 336 hectares across five villages. Farmers have begun receiving compensation at four times the notified circle rate, with a total payout exceeding INR 5 crore so far. The project also promises 10% of developed plots to landowners, setting a more inclusive precedent. A detailed project report is being finalised, while major connectivity upgrades, including elevated road extensions to the RRTS and Delhi-Meerut Expressway, are also in the pipeline. This marks GDA's most extensive land initiative since Madhuban Bapudham.Read more

Uttar Pradesh has introduced a transformative draft of its 2025 Building Construction and Development Byelaws, aiming to modernize and accelerate urban development across the state. The proposed framework does away with construction permits for small plots, automates the approval process, eases height and floor area ratio (FAR) limits in key areas, and supports flexible mixed-use zoning. By shifting to a trust-based, tech-driven model, the state hopes to reduce delays, increase transparency, and support vertical expansion in rapidly growing cities. Final approval awaits cabinet notification.Read more

Bengaluru's attempt to digitize property records through its e-khata system is facing mounting criticism from frustrated property owners. While more than 500,000 e-khatas have been issued so far, thousands of residents continue to battle with portal glitches, rejected documents, server crashes, and incomplete data integration. In newly added BBMP zones, citizens are being told to file fresh applications despite years of tax payments. Builders, too, are struggling due to the system's inability to process bulk khatas. The BBMP is now trying to control the damage through help camps, helplines, and offline support.Read more

The Andhra Pradesh government has notified a new land pooling policy for the Amaravati capital region, reviving its flagship greenfield development plan. While the old city core remains under the original 2015 scheme, this updated policy applies to an extended capital region and aims to bring in an additional ~40,000 acres on top of the ~54,000 acres already pooled. The scheme is voluntary, Aadhaar-based, and offers landowners reconstituted developed plots, annuities, and a package of social entitlements including free education, healthcare, and a one-time farm loan waiver of up to INR 150,000. The policy guarantees infrastructure development within three years of plot allotment and marks a renewed push to position Amaravati as a modern, people-first capital.Read more

Gurugram authorities intensified enforcement efforts in the past week, targeting illegal structures near Golf Course Road and within the Aravali range. Four unauthorised houses were demolished, while two under-construction buildings and a paying guest facility were sealed following previous notices. The action, carried out by the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) and Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), is part of a larger campaign targeting nearly 50 illegal structures across Behrampur, Ghata, Gwalpahari, and Sakatpur. The drive aims to curb repeated violations under the Punjab Land Preservation and Forest Conservation Acts. With routine drone surveillance planned, the crackdown is aimed at enforcing forest protection laws that have often been ignored despite earlier court orders.Read more

Chandigarh's estate office has overhauled its property mutation process by integrating an automated system that activates the moment a sale deed is registered. The new process eliminates the need for buyers to submit separate mutation applications, enabling leasehold properties to be mutated within just two days and freehold properties in less than a week. The system uses real-time data syncing with the sub-registrar office to auto-fetch sale deed details and supporting documents. The upgrade aligns with a broader push towards digitisation of urban land records and positions Chandigarh among the fastest in property transfer processing nationwide.Read more

The Uttarakhand High Court has halted construction of a INR 22 crore multi-level parking facility in Dehradun, citing environmental and flood concerns. Located near the Rishiparna river on Rajpur Road, the project drew criticism for tree cutting, green space damage, and debris dumping in the riverbed. Petitioners argued it violated green norms and posed risks to nearby residents. The court issued notices to MDDA, Dehradun Smart City Limited, and state and central authorities, seeking affidavits within three weeks. It questioned how the project began despite NGT and NDMA guidelines banning construction within 200 meters of rivers in hilly areas. The case reflects rising judicial focus on eco-sensitive development.Read more

Following the partial collapse of a dilapidated building on Plot No. 59, Sector 26, Parsik Hill in CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) conducted a full-scale demolition of the structure. The building, already categorised as C2-B during 2020-2021, had previously received structural audit notices in August 2024 and May 2025. Under the directives of the Municipal Commissioner and supervision of the Encroachment Department, demolition was executed using heavy machinery and a dedicated team of officials and labourers to eliminate risks to public safety.Read more

Over 70,000 housing units across 493 projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region are stalled due to a National Green Tribunal (NGT) directive requiring central environmental clearance for projects within 5 km of eco-sensitive zones. This change replaces previous state-level approvals and has caused major delays, especially in affordable and mid-income housing. Developers and homebuyers face financial stress, with construction paused in areas like Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Thane Bird Sanctuaries. A plea to allow work up to the plinth level was denied, citing NGT's August 2023 order. In Navi Mumbai, many government land projects are also stalled pending central clearance.Read more

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has assured that homes built on "zudpi jungle" land will not be demolished, impacting approximately 2 lakh families. He has directed officials to complete the regularization and land title issuance process within three months. This follows a Supreme Court ruling on May 22, 2025, which classified about 86,000 hectares of such land as forest but allowed for protecting existing settlements. The directive aims to grant ownership rights to long-term occupants who have historically paid taxes but lacked formal titles, addressing a matter of "life and dignity."Read more

Over 3,000 residents participated in Bengaluru's recent e-Khata mega mela in Byatarayanapura, where BBMP and state officials facilitated on-the-spot digitisation of property records. The event helped issue around 1,500 e?Khatas within hours and handed over 677 final certificates on the same day. With Byatarayanapura holding 1.8 lakh properties and over 5.3 lakh properties digitised citywide, the BBMP now plans to replicate the model across other wards in July. The initiative, which also won the National e-Governance Gold Award, aims to make the process faster, more accessible, and less prone to delays or malpractices by taking services directly to citizens.Read more

Indore has taken a major step in digital governance by becoming the first Indian city to launch a QR-code based digital address system. Starting with Ward 82 in Sudama Nagar, every house is now being equipped with a GPS-linked QR code plate that opens a unique digital profile via the national DigiPIN platform. Residents can now access services such as tax payments, utility bills, civic records, and emergency assistance through their phones. This pilot is free of cost and aims to gradually cover around 700,000 properties. The initiative also promises future infrastructure upgrades in the area.Read more

Following fresh orders from the National Green Tribunal, authorities in Gurgaon have demolished 15 illegal farmhouses built on protected forest land in the Aravali region, covering about 30 acres across eco-sensitive areas like Gwalpahari, Abheypur, and Manesar. The drive, supervised by a duty magistrate, followed show-cause notices and hearings for violators. Meanwhile, Haryana officials have identified over 6,700 illegal constructions in Faridabad's protected zones, with phased demolitions underway. While activists welcome the action, they say enforcement is still reactive, highlighting the need for stricter, preventive measures to protect the fragile Aravali ecosystem from further encroachment and ecological damage.Read more

The Punjab Cabinet has revamped the state's industrial land conversion policy, making it easier for owners of plots between 1,000 and 4,000 sq yd to shift to commercial uses like healthcare, hospitality, offices, education, and rental housing, subject to local zoning and road width rules. A flat 12.5% conversion fee simplifies what was once a complex process. Larger industrial plots can now be redeveloped into integrated parks with industrial, residential, and commercial spaces. Leasehold plots can also be converted to freehold, potentially generating INR 1,000 crore in fees. The government is also rolling out digital tools and new rules to speed up approvals and reduce red tape.Read more

The municipal government has kicked off an ambitious urban renewal effort by relocating nine slum clusters from Bhopal's city centre to sites within a 3-5 km radius. Around 14,000 permanent homes will be built via a Public-Private Partnership on government land. This move part of the wider Jhuggi Mukt Bhopal Yojana aims to free up 125 acres in the heart of the city and revamp living standards across 388 slums impacting 150,000 households. It follows previous survey efforts and on-site redevelopment plans near high-security zones that were abandoned to avoid security issues.Read more

Tiruvallur district authorities have appealed to the NGT for an extension in their ongoing eviction drive targeting 194 illegal structures built along Vilinjiyambakkam lake in Avadi, Chennai. Of these, 79 structures comprising 49 homes and 30 shops have already been removed. The remaining families are in the process of being relocated through government housing schemes or alternate land allocations. The lake, once spread over 100 acres, has shrunk drastically due to encroachments and untreated sewage. Although the NGT had passed eviction orders earlier, procedural delays and local resistance stalled progress. Officials now seek more time to complete the operation without displacing residents abruptly.Read more

Rane (Madras) Ltd finalised the sale of a 3.48-acre plot in Velachery, Chennai, to Canopy Living LLP, a joint venture between Prestige Estates Projects Ltd and Arihant Foundations & Housing for INR 361 crore. The strategic monetisation, facilitated by CBRE, is part of Rane's broader plan to reduce debt and streamline its city office operations. The remaining 1.02 acres of the 4.5-acre site will be retained by Rane (Madras) for setting up a new office.Read more

Narayana Hrudayalaya has acquired over 46,000 sq. ft. of land in Hulimavu, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru, for INR 246 crore through three deals-the largest involving 93,500 sq. ft. from Kelachandra Veneer Industries. While development plans remain undisclosed, the purchase aligns with the hospital chain's expansion strategy in south Bengaluru. Founded by Dr. Devi Shetty, the company operates 18 hospitals across India and has been strengthening its presence in the city's growing healthcare corridor. The acquisition follows a prior land deal in Begur Hobli worth INR 169 crore. The area's rising real estate value and improved infrastructure make it a hotspot for institutional investments.Read more

The BMC has leased an 8,116 sq. m land parcel near Crawford Market, home to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Market, for INR 369 crore-13% below the base price of INR 428 crore. Awarded to AAV Developers LLP for 30 years, the deal includes provisions for public infrastructure like a staircase, lift, and escalators for a planned foot over-bridge linking CSMT station to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai. Despite concerns over public utility and limited bidding-only two offers were received-the sale is part of BMC's strategy to ease financial pressure from infrastructure liabilities, which now exceed INR 2 lakh crore.Read more

Aseem Infrastructure Finance Ltd. (AIFL), an RBI-registered Infrastructure Finance Company backed by the Government of India through NIIF, has secured its first USD 80 million External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) and green loan from DBS Bank Ltd. Structured and arranged solely by DBS through its GIFT City branch, the funds will accelerate the financing of renewable energy projects across India. The transaction also marks DBS's role as the sole sustainability coordinator, reinforcing its leadership in responsible banking. India's clean energy ambitions, including the 2030 target of 500 GW non-fossil capacity, continue to attract strategic green financing.Read more