The Bombay High Court recently inquired whether the state government had disbursed INR 3.12 lakh in compensation to a landowner for property acquired by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for road widening in Mulund. The matter stemmed from a petition based on a letter by 96-year-old Laxmi Adhav, who sought enforcement of the court's directives from a judgment issued in September 2005. While BMC claimed compliance, Adhav contended that her land was acquired in three phases-1957, 1968, and 1972. However, the court found no records supporting the 1957 claim. Compensation directives were issued for portions acquired in 1968 and 1972.Read more

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by residents against the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) notice, thereby clearing the path for the redevelopment of the Bharat Nagar slum in Bandra (East). The SRA had surveyed 2,965 slum structures, finding 2,625 eligible for rehabilitation. The appellants had contested the redevelopment, claiming the plot fell under Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) jurisdiction, but their plea was repeatedly dismissed at various levels. The Supreme Court upheld the earlier decisions, noting that the appellants were merely transit tenants, and ruled that the appeals lacked merit. It was also observed that a majority of eligible slum dwellers had already agreed to the redevelopment, making the project legally and procedurally valid.Read more

The Housing and Urban Development Department of Bhubaneswar has assigned specific roles to the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to improve affordable housing allocation. The BDA will develop housing projects and transfer them to the BMC for distribution, ensuring a smoother process. Both agencies must finalize an action plan for slum redevelopment under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana 2.0 within 15 days. A committee will address eligibility issues, while banks will help with financial support. Discussions also included the Mahisakhal Project Phase II. These efforts aim to accelerate housing distribution and provide equitable housing for slum dwellers.Read more

The Goa High Court has concluded hearings on writ petitions and PILs challenging Section 17(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1974, which permits the government to amend the Regional Plan 2021 to rectify zoning errors. Petitioners, including NGOs like Goa Foundation and Goa Bachao Abhiyan, argue that the provision enables arbitrary land-use changes favoring real estate interests over environmental sustainability. The government defends it as a necessary correction mechanism. The court's ruling, expected soon, could set a precedent for urban planning policies in India, balancing development with ecological conservation in Goa's rapidly urbanizing landscape.Read more

The government of Odisha has amended its building regulations to maximize land use and attract industrial investment. The Odisha Town Planning and Improvement Trust Rules, 2021, and the Odisha Development Authorities Rules, 2020, have been amended to make rules simpler by enhancing land efficiency, relaxing setback and parking requirements, and increasing the base FAR. These modifications allow industries, IT companies, and MSMEs to grow more efficiently while removing the requirement for TDR certificates. Projected to cut land wastage by 60 percent, the reforms are in line with the Economic Survey 2024-25 to make Odisha globally attractive as an investment destination for enhanced industrial and economic development.Read more

The Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), Bihar, imposed a penalty of INR 50,000 each on seven promoters for advertising their projects without including the mandatory RERA registration number and the Authority's website address. The promoters, who had advertised on various platforms, admitted to the oversight. They have been given 60 days to pay the penalty, failing which further action will be taken under RERA regulations. Similar penalties have been imposed by other RERA's such as Maha RERA and UP RERA, reinforcing the necessity of adhering to RERA guidelines.Read more

The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) has sealed portions of six hotels, including Hotel Friends Regency, Hotel Nagpal Regency, and Hotel Onn, for building violations. This action follows a Punjab and Haryana High Court directive to curb illegal construction. Hotel owners now face legal consequences for deviating from approved building plans. Similar enforcement drives are underway in Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Chandigarh, targeting unauthorized structures. As Punjab cities expand, illegal construction remains a challenge. The Punjab government is considering simplified approval processes to balance urban growth with regulatory compliance and safety standards.Read more

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has announced new pollution control measures, mandating anti-smog guns in high-rise buildings, commercial centers, hotels, and construction sites. The initiative, launched after a high-level meeting with MCD and NDMC officials, includes converting all airport vehicles to green alternatives and introducing 10,000 EVs by 2026. The government is also considering cloud seeding and repurposing landfill sites into green spaces. However, experts warn that addressing emissions from industries, transport, and fossil fuels is essential for lasting improvement. Delhi's air quality crisis remains a pressing challenge requiring multi-pronged action.Read more

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government and the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) to either clarify the rights of all parties involved in the unauthorised construction case or present a demolition plan for the structure by the next hearing. The Lucknow bench observed that a building in Husainganj had been constructed well beyond the approved plan, holding landowners, developers, and LDA officials accountable for the violations. The court reviewed a report on Clay Square and surrounding buildings, discovering that approximately nine other structures had also breached regulations. Noting that Clay Square was constructed four times beyond the approved plan, the court decided to impose financial liability on the landowners and developers while taking action against negligent LDA officials.Read more

The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has lodged a case against five developers at the Kalyan Taluka Police Station under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act for the unauthorised construction of chawl rooms in Kalyan Taluka. The individuals identified in the case are Kitabullah Sheikh, Baitullah Sheikh, Mukhlish Kabadi, Iftikhar Kabadi, and Zulfiqar Khaliq. Complaints were received regarding illegal constructions in the Manda and Balyani areas, following which KDMC issued notices demanding legal documentation. As the accused failed to present valid land records and permissions, two FIRs were registered against them under the MRTP Act.Read more