The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has launched mandatory safety and structural audits for high-rise buildings over 15 metres tall and more than five years old, following the 2023 Harmilap Tower collapse that claimed eight lives. As per new bylaws, owners must conduct audits every five years through LDA-approved firms and rectify any deficiencies within a set timeframe to avoid penalties. The audits cover structural risks, life safety, and fire protocols. Public input, including 1,100 suggestions, is shaping ongoing reforms-such as a proposed increase in road width requirements. The initiative underscores LDA's commitment to urban safety, accountability, and responsive governance.Read more

The Noida Authority has launched a drone-based aerial surveillance initiative to crack down on illegal constructions along the Hindon and Yamuna floodplains. Spearheaded by CEO Lokesh M, the move targets unauthorized farmhouses and infrastructure, with a strict zero-tolerance policy in place. A multi-departmental task force, led by the local SDM, will oversee demolitions and report progress. Officials found negligent post-survey will face departmental action. Developers selling floodplain properties will be labeled land mafias, and sale deeds must now clearly prohibit construction in these zones. This pre-monsoon crackdown combines technology and enforcement to protect ecological areas and prevent unregulated urban expansion.Read more

The Bombay High Court has granted interim relief to landowners challenging the imposition of GST on the transfer of development rights under joint development agreements (JDAs). The petitioners argue that such transfers constitute a sale of land-exempt from GST-rather than a taxable supply of services. The court has restrained authorities from enforcing tax demands until further hearings, noting that the case raises significant questions about taxability, timing, and liability. The outcome could reshape GST treatment of JDAs, offering potential clarity and relief to landowners and developers. Authorities have been directed to respond within four weeks as the case proceeds.Read more

Noida Authority has initiated recovery proceedings against Sikka Infrastructure for outstanding dues amounting to INR 277 crore as of March 31, 2025. The dues pertain to a group housing plot in Sector 143B, allotted to the company in June 2011. Despite multiple reminders and notices, Sikka Infrastructure failed to clear the dues. Consequently, the company lost its eligibility for benefits under the state government's policy announced in December 2023 to assist stalled real estate projects. The Authority has now referred the matter to the Economic Offences Wing for further action.Read more

Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) has joined forces with United Way Mumbai to carry out daily beach clean-up and waste management activities in Mumbai. This initiative, aimed at promoting sustainable waste management practices, involves the deployment of Safai Sathis at Mahim Reti Bunder and Mahim Causeway. Over a six-month period, from October 2024 to March 2025, the project successfully collected 1,12,097.37 kgs of waste, which was processed at a Material Recovery Centre (MRC). IHCL's collaboration underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing environmental challenges while contributing to a cleaner Mumbai.Read more

CREDAI-MCHI hosted a seminar earlier this week at its Mumbai office to shed light on the implications of the recent Bombay High Court ruling concerning GST relief for homeowners in redevelopment projects. The panel featured industry experts, including Mr. Sunny Bijlani, Joint Secretary of CREDAI-MCHI, Mr. Rohit Jain, Deputy Managing Partner at Economic Laws Practice (ELP), and Mr. Harsh Shah, Partner at ELP. The court ruled that GST is not applicable where developers are appointed for redevelopment without the sale or transfer of development rights (TDR) or Floor Space Index (FSI). The judgement quashed a tax demand under Entry 5B of the relevant GST notification, emphasising that redevelopment agreements limited to construction do not involve the transfer of TDR or FSI under Maharashtra's Unified DCPR.Read more

Tamil Nadu's government has launched a significant housing initiative under the 'Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam' scheme, which aims to replace thatched huts with durable concrete houses in rural areas. With an initial budget of INR 3,500 crore, the scheme plans to build 100,000 houses in its first phase. The houses will be equipped with essential amenities, including water facilities, toilets, and roads. Beneficiaries must possess legal ownership documents, with the broader objective of a 'hut-free' state by 2030.Read more

Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has filed an FIR against 13 individuals-including five contractors, three middlemen, and five current or former BMC officials-in a desilting scam involving fake documents and inflated bills worth INR 66.5 crore. The accused allegedly submitted forged MoUs and agreements to falsely claim silt dumping at sites that were either unsuitable or non-existent, some even signed by deceased individuals. The scam, spanning February 2021 to December 2023, resulted in civic funds being misused. The case underscores serious lapses in municipal oversight, prompting calls for stricter audits and real-time verification in public infrastructure contracts. Further arrests are expected.Read more

The Jharkhand High Court ordered the state government earlier this week to give a clear schedule for finishing the land survey, which started in 1975 before the state split off from Bihar. The directive emerged during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by Gokul Chand, who highlighted the prolonged delay and its adverse effects on land ownership clarity. The court also sought information regarding the appointment of amins and other technical staff essential for the survey's completion. The absence of qualified personnel has been a significant impediment, leading to disputes over land ownership and hindering development projects.Read more

The District Magistrate of Patna, Chandrashekhar Singh, issued an order earlier this week to resolve all land mutation cases that have been pending for more than 75 days by the end of this month in an effort to increase administrative efficiency. The move targets key blocks such as Sampatchak, Bihta, Didarganj, Dhanrua, and Naubatpur, where the bulk of the backlog totalling around 14,108 cases remains. As part of the larger initiative to digitize and increase transparency in land-related services, the Patna Municipal Corporation has launched an online facility to expedite property mutation and tax assessments, and the Bihar government has implemented corrective measures to address procedural delays.Read more