The Firozpur Feeder Reconstruction Project, a joint initiative between Rajasthan and Punjab, is moving forward with approvals and funding commitments. With a sanctioned cost of INR 647.62 crore, the project seeks to enhance the Gang Canal system's capacity to support irrigation in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts. Punjab has agreed in principle to contribute INR 379.12 crore, while Rajasthan will fund INR 268.50 crore. The initiative is expected to significantly benefit over 3.14 lakh hectares of agricultural land.Read more

Farmers giving land for Lucknow's IT City along Sultanpur Road are set to gain nearly 10 times more than traditional land acquisition offers, thanks to a voluntary land pooling model. Instead of cash, they receive a share in developed or undeveloped land, allowing them to benefit from future value growth. So far, over 350 bighas have been pooled. Spread across 2,858 acres, the project includes residential, industrial, commercial, and green zones. Improved road connectivity and strict development oversight by the LDA add to its appeal. Inspired by Pune's Magarpatta model, this approach promotes farmer-inclusive urbanisation with long-term benefits for landowners.Read more

The Maharashtra Industrial Township Ltd (MITL) has allotted more than 60 acres of land in the Bidkin node of Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC) to six companies planning a combined investment of INR 1,261.2 crore. The industrial units will focus on manufacturing auto components, steam boilers, and solar cells, potentially generating 3,288 direct jobs. Junna Solar Systems Ltd has emerged as the largest investor among them with an investment of INR 400 crore. The region has so far seen 185 land allotments, 79 of which are already operational.Read more

The Chandigarh UT administration has set a reserve price of INR 11,850 per sq yd for auctioning nearly 7 acres of land in Manimajra, aiming to revive its land monetisation strategy. The plots, spanning residential, commercial, and institutional use, will be auctioned online, with residential plots 1-5 offered on a freehold basis and others on a 99-year leasehold. The administration has also sought Union Cabinet approval to allot land at collector rate for constructing 3,930 self-financed apartments for UT employees. The Municipal Corporation expects to generate over INR 400 crore from an upcoming auction in nearby pocket 6.Read more

Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) has moved e-Khata application submissions to Belagavi One centres to curb corruption and reduce delays. Following a surprise inspection revealing manipulation by agents, Commissioner Shubha B suspended manual processing and launched a digital-first system. Citizens can now submit applications directly at two active centres, with two more opening soon. A nominal INR 25 fee is charged, with no middlemen allowed. In 48 hours, BCC cleared 3,854 pending applications. Despite brief server issues, operations are stabilising. The initiative follows a state directive to resolve e-Khata cases within three months and includes public info boards and a helpline for assistance.Read more

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has carried out a demolition drive in the Ghansoli area against unauthorised constructions, which continued despite prior notices issued under Section 54 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. The demolition was ordered by the civic chief and executed under the supervision of senior officials. RCC structures rising up to four storeys were razed as they lacked necessary permissions. Officials have signalled a stricter crackdown on future violations across the region.Read more

The Bombay High Court has struck down Section 17(2) of Goa's Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, criticising unchecked land-use conversions in Bardez taluka, including Calangute and Candolim. Between March 2023 and early 2024, over 353 approvals reclassified 2.65 million sqm of orchards and paddy fields into settlement zones-bypassing planning norms and public scrutiny. The court called the move 'disastrous,' highlighting systemic failures in Goa's urban planning. This follows past judicial interventions halting Outline Development Plans and the 2021 Regional Plan notification. While the Goa government has appealed the decision, the ruling marks a win for civic groups seeking transparent, eco-sensitive development.Read more

A commercial land parcel in Gachibowli, Hyderabad fetched an impressive INR 2.2 lakh per square yard during a government auction held this past week, closing at a total value of INR 33 crore. A second plot in the same locality was snapped up for INR 11 crore, underlining the growing investor interest in this prime zone. The Telangana Housing Board's auction, which also included land parcels in Chintal, Nizampet, and other locations, amassed a total of INR 65 crore. The surge reflects Hyderabad's upward trajectory in high-value real estate, especially in commercial segments.Read more

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has hinted at upcoming land law reforms aimed at easing property development restrictions on smaller land parcels, particularly in urban areas like Nagpur. A new law, expected in the monsoon session, will allow development on one-guntha plots (1,000 sq. ft.) in residential zones, effectively amending current rules that limit land fragmentation. The move is expected to simplify property transactions and boost housing availability. The minister also confirmed that residents of Kumbhari village, affected by land acquisition near Nagpur, will receive full rehabilitation benefits. The proposed reforms aim to balance urban planning with increased flexibility in land use.Read more

The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) is developing 10 high-tech sectors across 2,858 acres near Sultanpur Road and Kisan Path, with designated zones for IT parks, housing, commercial hubs, civic spaces, and institutions. An additional 188 acres are allocated for a Central Park and golf course. The layout features a grid-road system and eco-friendly planning, including rainwater harvesting and green-building standards. Public transport will be supported with dedicated bus, cycling, and pedestrian lanes. LDA's land-pooling scheme has secured 186 acres from 39 landowners, enabling plans for 5,000 residential plots and extensive industrial and commercial development, all aimed at job creation and regional growth.Read more

The BMC has launched a detailed land survey on a six-acre plot in Lower Parel after the Supreme Court denied ownership claims by Century Textiles and Industries Ltd. The survey, expected to take over a month, will document structures, encroachments, and tree cover. The land, leased in 1927 for worker housing, currently houses around 450 tenants. Aditya Birla Real Estate, linked to Century Textiles, has formally handed over possession. BMC has asked for the company's name to be removed from official records and is now exploring legal options on whether the land use can change and how existing residents should be re-accommodated.Read more

India's commercial real estate sector is seeing a strategic pivot, with outdoor advertising evolving into a major revenue source. As malls become leisure destinations and office complexes adopt mixed-use models, developers are increasingly monetising outdoor spaces through high-impact digital displays, facades, rooftops, and transition points. Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) advertising, valued at USD 284 million in 2024, is projected to more than double by 2030. With revenue shares from advertising reaching up to 12% in some commercial properties, both developers and tech firms are exploring innovative formats to maximise brand engagement in high-traffic zones.Read more

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