PNT Reporter

The Kochi Metro's second phase, which runs from JLN Stadium to Kakkanad, has been delayed due to land acquisition issues and delays in the commencement of work. As a result, the project cost has escalated, and the revised estimate has been set at Rs 1,957.05 crore. The state cabinet has granted approval for the revised estimate, which is expected to speed up the work on the Metro line's second phase.Read more

PNT Reporter

The cost of the Versova Bandra Sealink, a major project of the Maharashtra government, has increased by 60% from Rs 6,993 crore in 2019 to Rs 11,333 crore. However, there has been very little progress on the project due to legal disputes. Certain parties have challenged the environmental clearance granted to the project, and the matter has reached the Supreme Court. The 17.7 km long project was expected to be completed by 2023, but the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has now revised the deadline to December 2026.Read more

The West Bengal state government's urban development and municipal affairs department has released a draft notification proposing changes to sections of the West Bengal Municipal (Building) Rules, 2007. The amendments include provisions such as reserving 10% of parking spaces for charging infrastructure in buildings with more than 30 flats or apartments, regularizing minor deviations from sanctioned building plans, allowing additional ground coverage for car parking and building services, and introducing building rules for MSME units in industrial parks.Read more

According to news reports, Mumbai based Hiranandani Group, has requested the Yamuna Express Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) to identify and assign 100 acres of land near the Jewar Airport to the company for the purpose of constructing a semiconductor park. This request is currently under review by authorities. The company is keen to create an ATMP (assembly, testing, marking, and packaging) facility in the YEIDA region. However, they will pursue the final assignment of land only after receiving all the requisite clearances from Indian Semiconductor Mission (ISM).Read more

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has decided to scrap six metro stations from its phase-2 project, which is expected to save nearly 1,200 crore. The plan was to construct six stations underground at Doveton Junction, Foreshore Estate, Natesan Park, Meenakshi College and Thapal Petti, and one elevated station at St Joseph's College. The decision to scrap these stations was taken on account of the fact that they were located less than 750m from the next stop.Read more

Over the weekend, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi inaugurated over ten projects by Hubballi-Dharwad Smart City Limited (HDSCL) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Dharwad. The HDSCL has completed fifty-three projects out of the sixty-two it has carried out in Hubballi. Nine projects are still under construction. The inauguration of sixteen new projects by Prime Minister Modi marked the completion of works worth Rs 520 crore under the Smart City project.Read more

The state of Uttarakhand in India has taken steps to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs) by approving a proposal to amend the Building Construction and Development By-Laws/Regulations, 2011. Under the new regulations, all non-residential buildings with an area greater than 1,500 square meters, including group housing, hotels, multiplexes, and lodges, except for single residential buildings, must install EV charging infrastructure. The ratio of charging facilities for two-wheelers and four-wheelers will be 60:40.Read more

The state of Maharashtra in India has come up with a new plan to use buildable salt pan lands for rehabilitation and redevelopment purposes. The plan aims to provide affordable housing to the poor and middle-class sections of society, who are currently struggling with a lack of housing options. The Maharashtra government has identified 101 salt pan lands across Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts, covering a total area of 5,189 hectares, which can be developed for housing purposes.Read more

According to recent reports, Noida Authority officials have confirmed that work to clear debris from the Supertech Twin Towers demolition site is likely to resume soon. Edifice Engineering, the company commissioned to undertake the work, has been given a revised deadline of 15th March 2023 to complete the pending work. The removal of debris on the site of the Supertech Twin Towers has been fraught with delays. Due to the construction prohibition implemented in the latter half of the year, the High Court's deadline of three months to remove the rubble was not met. Subsequently, work was once again stopped in January this year because of concerns about noise pollution.Read more

The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) and State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) were instructed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to explain if a joint committee had investigated alleged environmental infractions in a Worli SRA project. Skylark Buildcon and Oberoi Realty had been prohibited from selling apartments under the project's free sale component by an order issued by the NGT last year until it had supplied 500 parking spaces for the slum rehabilitation structures.Read more