The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has advanced its proposal to expand the city's limits by incorporating 72 nearby revenue villages into its administrative boundary. The move follows the receipt of consent from these village communities and aims to improve civic governance, streamline urban services, and facilitate long-term development planning in the city's peripheral areas. The expansion will increase the BMC's existing zones from three to six and enable better delivery of essential services such as sanitation, water supply, and waste management.Read more

India hosted its first IFLA Global Studio Program (GSP) earlier this week at Vivekanand Education Society's College of Architecture (VESCOA), Mumbai, as an allied event to the upcoming Asia Pacific Regional Congress 2025. The initiative brought together students from India and across the globe to deliberate on the theme 'Reimagining Urban Landscapes: Negotiating Mumbai's Paradoxes.- Organised by the Indian Society of Landscape Architects (ISOLA), the five-day charette focused on addressing urban challenges through collaborative design and innovation, encouraging cross-border academic engagement in landscape architecture.Read more

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has invited bids to lease a 10,860 sq. m. commercial plot in Wadala, valued at a reserve price of INR 1,629 crore. With a high permissible FSI of 10, the site offers a built-up potential of 1,08,600 sq. m. Located in the Wadala Notified Area, the plot is part of MMRDA's plan to develop Mumbai's third central business district after BKC and Nariman Point. Enhanced by metro, monorail, and freeway connectivity, the initiative aims to attract large-scale commercial investment and generate non-fare revenue for regional infrastructure. The project marks a key step in decentralising Mumbai's commercial growth.Read more

The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) made a grand entry into Nagpur with the announcement of its upcoming project Nagpur Marina through a striking aerial display over Futala Lake. Pilots flew paramotors carrying banners to introduce the brand, symbolising the marina-inspired lifestyle HoABL aims to bring - blending tranquillity with community living. CEO Samujjwal Ghosh said the launch marks a key milestone as Nagpur emerges as an economic and lifestyle hub, while CMO Saurabh Jain described the showcase as a creative, immersive brand experience. Founded in 2020, HoABL has rapidly grown across India, combining technology and transparency to redefine modern, trust-based real estate ownership.Read more

In one of Navi Mumbai's biggest land deals, CIDCO sold a 42,000 sq. m. (over 10-acre) plot in Kharghar's Sector 23 to Aakar Developers for INR 2,120 crore, translating to about INR 5 lakh per sq. m. - the highest rate recorded in the area. The developer must pay 50% of the amount within three months. While higher FSI has improved project viability, the four-year completion deadline and strict penalties remain challenges. The deal cements Kharghar's position as a premium real estate hub, supported by strong infrastructure, education, and lifestyle amenities, as Aakar Developers prepares to deliver on this landmark investment.Read more

The Indian Society of Landscape Architects (ISOLA) has announced the upcoming International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA)�Asia Pacific Regional Congress 2025, to be held in Mumbai later next year. Centred on the theme "Growth Paradox: Reimagining Landscapes," the event will bring together leading professionals and policymakers to deliberate on redefining urban growth through sustainability, inclusivity, and ecological balance. Supported by BMC, IGBC, and CREDAI�MCHI, the congress will feature over 40 speakers, exhibitions, panel discussions, and a Global Landscape Studio initiative.Read more

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is set to invite public objections before moving ahead with the acquisition of approximately 153 acres of land under the Indirapuram Extension scheme. The move follows a direction from the Allahabad High Court, which instructed the authority to follow due process and compensate affected farmers at up to twice the 2014 circle rate. The notification for land acquisition in Mohiddinpur Kanawani village was issued earlier this week.Read more

The Maharashtra government has regularised long-disputed land parcels previously restricted under the Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947, providing long-awaited relief to millions of landowners. A new notification exempts non-agricultural lands from the Act, recognising transactions made between November 1965 and October 2024 without extra charges. Around 49 lakh landholders � impacting nearly two crore people � will now have their names reflected on 7/12 land records. Registered sale deeds will be updated automatically, while unregistered ones must be formalised. The reform streamlines land laws, clarifies ownership, and boosts transparency in property records across Maharashtra�s urban and peri-urban areas.Read more

The Chandigarh administration has completed the drone-based data collection phase of the Naksha project, covering 15 city sectors and five villages. The collected data has been processed into high-resolution digital base maps that will help in creating urban property cards and integrating ownership details. The next stage will involve field verification, public participation, and data validation through a digital platform. The project aims to streamline urban land management, improve transparency, and reduce property-related disputes by linking accurate geospatial and ownership records.Read more

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved leasing around 15 acres of land at the closed Mulund dumping ground to Navbharat Mega Developers Private Limited (NMDPL), an Adani Group special purpose vehicle (SPV) executing the Dharavi Redevelopment Project with the Maharashtra government. The lease, set for 10 years, will carry an annual rent of INR 18.35 crore at a rate of INR 252 per sq m per month. The land will be used to set up casting yards, precast units, and RMC plants essential for construction. However, the site still holds around 50,000 metric tons of solid waste awaiting clearance before work begins.Read more

The Telangana RERA Appellate Tribunal, led by Justice A. Santhosh Reddy, has ruled that landowners in joint development agreements (JDAs) are to be treated as co-promoters, not allottees or consumers, under the RERA Act. The judgment arose from appeals by landowners of the 'Sanali Pinnacle' project in Hyderabad, who sought higher penalties against the developer. The Tribunal held that since landowners share both profits and risks, they cannot seek buyer-level protection under RERA. It also clarified that a site board or a project listing without pricing details does not constitute advertising. By overturning the earlier RERA order, the ruling brings legal clarity to the roles of landowners and developers in JDAs.Read more

The Andhra Pradesh government has extended the submission period for its Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) by three months, shifting the cut-off to 23 January 2026, after observing a weak response from plot-owners and developers. The scheme, reintroduced with the aim of bringing unauthorised layouts and plots into the planning framework, was initially set to close at the end of October. Officials say the extension is intended to give more participants time to apply and to enhance compliance across urban local bodies.Read more

The South Western Railway (SWR) in Bengaluru recently recovered 512.25 sqm (641.25 sqm including extension sheds) of centrally-located railway land between Banaswadi and Hebbal after removing 24 unauthorised structures, mostly multi-storey. The operation was carried out under legal orders with support of the State Police and was linked to doubling of tracks on the Yesvantpur-Hosur section and Corridor-2 of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP). This step continues a broader push to reclaim railway land and improve infrastructure safety.Read more

HYDRAA has taken decisive action to curb land misuse in Hyderabad after investigating public complaints received via the Prajavani platform. Commissioner A.V. Ranganath confirmed that in Hastinapuram North Extension Colony (Karmanghat village), a 1.27-acre park area from an approved layout had been illegally sold as plots; the agency removed the encroachments, fenced the land, and installed ownership boards. In Subhash Nagar (Chandanagar circle), a 700 sq yd plot reserved for public amenities was also reclaimed and fenced. HYDRAA urged citizens to continue reporting such violations through Prajavani, highlighting that public participation and swift enforcement are key to safeguarding Hyderabad's community land and public assets.Read more

The Tamil Nadu Land Reforms Department has issued fresh guidelines to all district collectorates and revenue offices to strengthen the maintenance and classification of land records. The directive aims to ensure better record management, transparency, and quicker responses to Right to Information (RTI) queries. It comes after the State Information Commission raised concerns about missing or untraceable files. The circular specifies the types of land-related records to be maintained, classification methods, safe storage practices, and a colour-coded filing system to clearly track pending and closed cases.Read more

The Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd. (RIICO) launched the sixth phase of its direct allotment scheme, offering about 6,000 industrial plots across nearly 100 industrial areas in the state. The scheme is available to investors who signed memoranda of understanding under the Rising Rajasthan summit. It includes dedicated reservations for SC/ST entrepreneurs, women, ex-servicemen and persons with disabilities. For plots up to 50,000 sq m, direct allotment applies if there's a single applicant, while contested lots go to lottery; larger plots are allotted based on eligibility and land-requirement.Read more

The Union government has initiated land acquisition for the 18.11 km Mohali-Rajpura railway link, at an estimated cost of INR 443 crore, which will span across 53.84 hectares in the Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Mohali districts. The Ministry of Railways has asked the Government of Punjab to assist in securing and handing over the land needed for this special project. Project authorities believe the new link will directly connect the Malwa region with Chandigarh, ease congestion on the Chandigarh-Ambala section and provide an alternate freight corridor, benefiting farmers, traders and industrial zones. The demand dates back nearly fifty years, with earlier studies and approvals recorded in the 1990s and 2010s.Read more

The Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) has amended its Disposal of Land Rules, 1979, allowing industrial plots to be converted for commercial, residential, institutional, or mixed-use purposes. Under the revised norms, conversions to commercial use will be charged at twice the industrial rate, while residential or institutional conversions will cost 1.5 times, and mixed-use the highest applicable rate. In contrast, conversions from commercial to industrial or residential use will incur just 0.10 times the industrial rate. While the policy encourages flexible urban development, officials caution that low conversion fees could spur speculation and reduce revenue. Transparency and fair valuation will be key to sustainable implementation.Read more

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth INR 12.6 crore belonging to Sahiti Infratec Ventures India Pvt Ltd (SIVIPL), its former director Sandu Purnachandra Rao, his family, and associates under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The action follows FIRs by Telangana Police after homebuyers alleged non-delivery of flats and villas, with the alleged fraud amounting to INR 842 crore. The ED found that funds were raised without regulatory approvals or escrow accounts, with INR 216 crore collected in cash and diverted for personal use. Earlier, assets worth INR 161 crore were attached. Both key promoters remain in custody as investigations into the major Telangana real estate fraud continue.Read more

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) continues to struggle with unauthorized hawkers occupying entrances near Aqua Line 3 Metro stations, despite daily inspections and enforcement measures. Vendors temporarily vacate areas during crackdowns but return shortly after, creating congestion and obstructing pedestrian movement. Officials admit the recurring nature of the problem and note that festive periods see an increase in hawking activity. The situation reflects the ongoing difficulty of managing illegal vending in Mumbai's public spaces, even as major infrastructure projects like Aqua Line 3 are completed.Read more