The government has formed a committee to address land acquisition and the rehabilitation of slum dwellers at Moti Dongor, Margao. Led by the director of municipal administration, the panel includes officials from key departments and will explore rehabilitation solutions through government schemes or public-private partnerships. The committee has a two-month tenure and will meet biweekly to assess land requirements, determine rates, and draft a settlement plan. The issue dates back to 2013 when authorities ordered the demolition of 116 illegal structures, but legal disputes have stalled any progress. With the committee now in place, the government aims to finally resolve this long-standing issue.Read more

Uttarakhand Assembly has amended the Zamindari Destruction and Land Reforms Act, 1950 to tighten land purchase rules and protect environmental values effectively. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the change will improve transparency and prevent speculative investments. The new law centralizes approvals for agricultural and industrial land acquisitions in 11 districts, while Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar follow current rules. It limits purchases over 12.5 acres and requires affidavits for residential plots. The reform responds to rising land encroachments and forest loss, with public consultations guiding policy and ensuring sustainable growth.Read more

The Maharashtra government has extended the deadline to convert Occupancy Class II and leasehold lands to freehold status until December 31, 2025. This initiative allows landholders to gain full ownership by paying a percentage of the Ready Reckoner (RR) rate. While 12,436 conversions have been completed, over 103,000 properties remain pending. To boost participation, concessional premiums apply, with lower rates for societies opting for self-redevelopment under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The policy aligns with broader efforts to encourage redevelopment, streamline industrial land use, and promote economic growth, strengthening Maharashtra's real estate and infrastructure landscape.Read more

MHADA Vice President and CEO, Sanjeev Jaiswal, IAS, has formed a committee to investigate a cash-throwing incident at MHADA Headquarters and verify the eligibility of 11 applicants seeking transit tenements. These applicants, from the Vikhroli Kannamwar Nagar transit camp, were not residing in unsafe structures demolished for redevelopment and were previously excluded from housing allotments. The committee will review their claims and submit a report in 15 days. MHADA has emphasized transparency and warned against attempts to influence decision-making. The inquiry aims to ensure fair allocation of housing while preventing undue interference in administrative processes.Read more

A recent eXp study highlights Nagpur as the Indian city with the highest percentage of RERA-compliant homes for sale, with 38% of listed properties meeting regulatory standards. Surat follows closely at 36%, while Indore ranks third at 29%. In contrast, Delhi has an alarmingly low compliance rate of just 0.6%, raising concerns about buyer protection in the capital. RERA, enacted in 2016, aims to enhance transparency and safeguard homebuyers, but varying compliance levels across cities indicate enforcement challenges. As the market evolves, increasing awareness and stricter implementation will be crucial in ensuring safer property investments across India.Read more

The Haryana government has formed a four-member committee to investigate irregularities in the e-draw process for affordable housing in Sector 36, Sohna. Concerns arose after all 708 flats were awarded exclusively to Sohna residents, contradicting the Affordable Housing Policy of 2013. The government has paused allotments while the committee, including senior town planning officials, examines potential technical errors, administrative oversight, or bias. The Department of Town and Country Planning has ordered a fresh draw. As scrutiny of the e-draw system continues, the committee's findings will determine corrective measures to ensure a fair and transparent housing allocation process.Read more

The Uttar Pradesh government has doubled its budget for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G) to INR 4,882 crore for 2025-26, up from INR 2,441 crore last year. This increase is set to accelerate the construction of over 30 lakh houses for economically weaker sections in rural areas. Since 2016, PMAY-G has enabled 36 lakh houses in UP, contributing to the national target of 4.95 crore homes by 2029. Additionally, the state has raised the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) budget to INR 1,200 crore. With enhanced funding for rural employment and infrastructure, UP aims to boost both housing and economic development.Read more

The Telangana government is fast-tracking affordable housing initiatives to counter Hyderabad's rising property prices. The Telangana Housing Board (THB) is leading the effort, utilizing 700 acres of its land and 900 acres from Deccan Infrastructure along the Outer Ring Road (ORR). Consultants have been invited to strategize the developments. The government has also accelerated the Indiramma Housing Scheme, aiming to build 25 lakh homes in five years, with financial aid for landowners and non-landowners alike. Future plans include acquiring land near the Regional Ring Road (RRR). These measures aim to create an inclusive housing market and curb real estate inflation.Read more

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has launched an Online Development Permission System (ODPS) from February 1, streamlining approvals for building and construction projects, including slum rehabilitation. This system, covering areas like Bandra Kurla Complex and Wadala, enhances efficiency and transparency in urban planning. Previously available only in select zones, ODPS now extends across MMR, reducing the need for in-person visits. Similar digital initiatives are being implemented across India, including Assam, Gujarat, and Telangana. As urban governance shifts towards digital platforms, these efforts aim to simplify regulatory processes and improve the ease of doing business.Read more

The Bombay High Court ruled that developers cannot indefinitely postpone their statutory duties by citing contractual or procedural contingencies. It directed the district deputy registrar (DDR) of co-operative societies in Mumbai to issue a conveyance certificate to a Kandivali-based cooperative housing society that had been awaiting it for the past decade. Justice Amit Borkar stated that the developer's argument, which insisted on awaiting the completion of redevelopment and the formation of a federation before granting conveyance, lacked legal merit. The court highlighted that the Maharashtra Ownership Flats (Regulation of the Promotion of Construction, Sale, Management, and Transfer) Act, 1963 (MOFA) provides societies with an immediate and enforceable right to conveyance, irrespective of external contractual considerations.Read more