US-based OpenAI has secured a 50-seater managed workspace in Delhi through flex-operator CorporatEdge, marking its first office in India. The company chose a central Delhi location rather than business suburbs such as Noida or Gurugram. The move reflects a trend of large enterprises driving demand for flexible office formats. Analysts say India's flexible workspace stock is expected to rise markedly by 2027, with Delhi-NCR set to capture a significant share.Read more

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced earlier this week that it has commenced widening works on the left-hand carriageway near Subroto Park Air Force Station, expanding it from two lanes to four. The initiative aims to ease congestion between Dhaula Kuan and Delhi Airport, particularly at the Parade Road underpass. The project also includes a new foot overbridge, enhanced drainage systems, and pollution control measures such as anti-smoke guns and water sprinklers. Completion is expected within the next six months.Read more

Italian fashion retailer OVS will soon open its first store in India at Pacific Mall, Tagore Garden, New Delhi. Scheduled for October, the store spans 9,000 square feet and will house everyday wear and premium collections including PIOMBO, B.Angel, Les Copains, and Utopja, all developed by the in-house design team. With more than 2,200 stores globally and sales worth EUR 1.63 billion in 2024, OVS is extending its reach to one of the fastest-growing fashion markets. A surprise gift will also be offered to the first 100 visitors on the launch day.Read more

The Delhi High Court upheld the MCD's declaration that Signature View Apartments are "dangerous and not fit for habitation" allowing the DDA to proceed with demolition. Residents must vacate within three months, with rent support of INR 50,000 for HIG flats and INR 38,000 for MIG flats, increasing annually by 10%. Structural issues, including cracked pillars and corroded reinforcements, led to the ruling, following an IIT-Delhi study and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena's recommendations. The court blocked plans for additional flats, citing residents' rights to open spaces and amenities, emphasizing the need for regulatory accountability and safety in Delhi's housing projects.Read more

Kishore Biyani's daughters, Avni Biyani Jhunjhunwala and Ashni Biyani, are reentering the food retail arena with Food Stories, akin to their previous venture Foodhall. Their new gourmet food and experiential retail concept will debut at Ambience Mall in New Delhi, offering artisanal foods including cheeses, condiments, fresh produce, and packaged items. With support from the Narottam Sekhsaria family office, they aim to tap into rising demand for specialized foods and wellness products. This comeback follows the closure of Foodhall due to parent company Future Retail's insolvency issues. Additionally, the sisters plan to introduce Broadway, housing digital-first brands, and have launched Think9 Consumer Technologies to promote digitally native brands across multiple consumption categories. Despite growing competition, their move aligns with the expanding premium food market in India, projected to reach USD 1,230 billion by 2023.Read more

NBCC saw a rise in stock value after executing an e-auction, selling 61,000 sqft of commercial space in New Delhi's Ayurvigyan Nagar for INR 272.68 crore. Grid Controller of India Ltd secured the deal. The proceeds will fund housing construction for AIIMS Delhi faculty/staff. The project, "Grande Rue," features three levels of basement parking for 150 cars and four storeys of commercial space. NBCC's subsidiary, HSCC (India), secured a INR 459.70 crore contract for a hospital project in Maharashtra. In December 2023, NBCC reported a 60% rise in net profit. They also obtained approval for developing unused FAR in Amrapali projects worth INR 10,000 crore and won three contracts worth INR 369.05 crore.Read more

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in New Delhi has issued a verdict on a legal dispute between Supertech Realtors and Indiabulls Housing Finance. The case concerns Supertech Realtors' accusation that Indiabulls Housing Finance improperly deducted INR 6,150 crore from its loan account, exceeding the legitimate amount owed of INR 5,873 crore. Supertech alleges that this financial discrepancy not only breaches their contract but also has broader implications for public interest, potentially affecting their ability to deliver properties to customers. However, Indiabulls Housing Finance presented a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) order characterizing the dispute as a bilateral matter, to be resolved through contractual obligations. The NCLT ruling favoured Indiabulls Housing Finance, highlighting the complexities of corporate disputes, particularly in the real estate sector.Read more

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has acquired two separate land parcels totaling 5 acres in Mehrauli Tehsil, New Delhi, for a combined sum of INR 79 crore. The first 2.5-acre plot was purchased for INR 29 crore in March 2023, followed by the second 2.5-acre parcel acquired for INR 50 crore in September 2023. The plots in the Dera Mandi village, Chhatarpur area, are attracting affluent buyers interested in farmhouses. A surge in demand for such properties post-COVID has seen prominent figures like JC Chaudhary and Jaguar investing in Delhi's farmhouse areas.Read more

Risland India achieves a milestone as Sky Mansion, its South Delhi skyscraper, receives an advanced Occupancy Certificate, signalling readiness for immediate move-in. The subsidiary of Singapore-based Risland boasts a global residential portfolio of Rs 1 lakh crores and aims to apply a 5% price hike this month following the project's completion before the scheduled date. With top-notch amenities, infinite views, and a strategic location, Sky Mansion positions itself as a premium residential choice, with notable neighbours including celebrities like Yuvraj Singh who owns a penthouse in the building.Read more

The Delhi High Court has invalidated a demolition notice issued by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) targeting "unauthorized" constructions near the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. The court directed the DDA to restart the process, emphasizing the importance of granting a fair hearing to the affected parties before taking further action on alleged encroachments. The court highlighted procedural lapses, stating that no intimation was issued to the petitioners before the demolition notice, and quashed the notice issued in December 2022. The ruling underscores the need for administrative actions to adhere to statutory procedures and principles of natural justice.Read more

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has issued new guidelines to address low property tax returns. In cases where tax arrears exceed Rs 25 lakh, punitive actions, including prosecution under the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, will be taken against defaulters. Despite previous measures, such as attaching bank accounts and properties, proving insufficient, the MCD will now initiate prosecution under sections 152A and 467 of the DMC Act for tax amounts exceeding Rs 25 lakh. Assessing officers are mandated to file complaints and commence prosecution proceedings against individuals who have wilfully defaulted on payment or attempted to evade tax.Read more

Shravan Kumar Chaudhary, director of Gujara Construction Pvt Ltd, was arrested at Delhi's airport over a fraudulent property deal involving over Rs 2.3 crore. The victim, Sushil Kumar of Noida, filed a complaint alleging Chaudhary duped him in a fraudulent property transaction. Chaudhary had claimed ownership of a seven-story building in Harola village, Sector 5, and promised to sell half of it for Rs. 9.50 crores. The real owner was later identified as the Noida Authority. Chaudhary is now in police custody.Read more

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is taking determined steps to address pollution and enforce environmental standards. Over a two-week period, they issued 24 challans with fines totalling Rs 8.2 lakh for violations related to construction and demolition guidelines. The MCD has deployed 511 surveillance teams to monitor environmental concerns, including open burning, illegal construction, waste dumping, and road dust. They've stationed anti-smog guns at high-rise buildings, landfills, and hotspot areas to combat air and dust pollution. The MCD's efforts are aimed at ensuring environmental compliance, especially in anticipation of the upcoming winter smog and pollution.Read more

A Delhi court has ordered an FIR against a builder for allegedly defrauding a buyer, Masud Alam, of Rs 1.3 crore under the pretence of selling a property in Bara Hindu Rao. The property, paid for between August 2019 and July 2021, was later sealed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Accused Mohammad Gulfam Qureshi and Anshul Goel reportedly pressured Alam for payments, despite construction delays. The case highlights the need for vigilance in property transactions.Read more

Delhi's Winter Action Plan, initiated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, is in full swing to combat air pollution as the city prepares for winter. At its forefront is the Anti Dust Campaign, featuring 591 teams from 13 departments, inspecting construction sites to enforce dust control guidelines. Fines for non-compliance send a stern message to violators. The Green War Room coordinates these efforts, while bio decomposer spraying and anti-smog guns are also used. This campaign, lasting from October 7 to November 7, is crucial for mitigating winter air pollution. Stricter penalties await severe violators, and public participation is encouraged through the Green Delhi App, reflecting a unified effort to create a cleaner, healthier Delhi.Read more

A major fire broke out at a Mukherjee Nagar PG facility in northwest Delhi, allegedly due to faulty electrical wiring ignored by the building owner despite multiple complaints. Thirty-five individuals were rescued, and a case has been registered against the owner. A police probe is underway to determine if fire safety protocols were violated. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has ordered a survey of all PG facilities in the area. Survivors claim repeated pleas to fix wiring issues were ignored. This incident follows the MCD's recent sealing drive against coaching centres without NOCs after a similar fire left 61 students injured.Read more

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is contemplating the introduction of "compensatory regulatory charges" in south and east Delhi, a move that may significantly affect residential construction costs in these areas. Previously, this fee was limited to North Delhi. The charges will be based on the built-up area of new residential structures or renovations and will be applied during the building plan approval process. The proposal is set to be discussed in an upcoming house meeting. MCD officials argue that these charges are necessary to support infrastructure development in MCD-governed regions. However, there are suggestions to revise the fee calculation method to correlate with the built-up area, potentially impacting construction costs.Read more

In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court has rejected R K Arora's petition, chairman and owner of Supertech, challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a high-profile money laundering case. The court upheld the legality of his arrest, emphasizing the ED's adherence to legal provisions and the prompt notification of grounds for arrest. Arora's claims of violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and his fundamental rights were dismissed, as the court found no substantive evidence. The court also addressed the issue of interim bail, suggesting video conferencing for meetings with creditors. Subsequently, the ED filed a charge sheet against Arora and others, alleging conspiracy to defraud homebuyers.Read more

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has approved an annual 8% increase in charges for obtaining property rights in unauthorized colonies under the Pradhan Mantri-Unauthorized Colony in Delhi Awas Adhikar Yojana (PM-Uday scheme). This revision, effective from April 1, 2022, follows an amendment to the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorized Colonies) Regulations, 2019, in compliance with Section 57 of the Delhi Development Act, 1957. The charges for property rights will increase by 8% each year. While this move aims to regularize unauthorized colonies, it may pose challenges for applicants seeking legal recognition of their properties in these areas.Read more

The upcoming five-day special Parliament session in New Delhi will see the old Parliament building bid farewell, with the inauguration of the new structure set for Ganesh Chaturthi on September 19. Both Houses will reflect on the historical significance of the old building on the first day, and Parliamentarians will share their memories. A joint sitting of Parliament is expected. A new dress code, designed by NIFT, is being introduced for staff, while marshals will wear Manipuri or Kannada turbans.Read more