Fourteen years after being temporarily relocated, slum dwellers from Pir Vasahat in Akota, Vadodara have vacated municipal land after receiving permanent homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. In 2010, they were displaced for a road widening project and offered housing in distant Pratapnagar, which many declined due to work-related inconvenience. Instead, about 30 families settled near Akota burial ground on the condition that they'd leave once nearby homes were provided. That promise was fulfilled recently, with new homes allotted near Sun Pharma Road- close to their jobs and community ties-marking the end of a long wait and a successful civic housing resolution.Read more

IL&FS has moved the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) seeking to disqualify Brookfield's affiliate, Chronos Properties, from acquiring its marquee commercial property in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai. The objection comes after Chronos failed to renew an INR 108 crore performance guarantee, which expired this week. IL&FS alleges that this breach voids the Letter of Intent (LoI) issued for the INR 1,080 crore transaction. With commercial property rates in BKC surging, IL&FS now wants the bid scrapped and permission to entertain new offers. The tribunal is currently reviewing the case.Read more

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted a second round of raids targeting a syndicate involved in unauthorized constructions in the Vasai-Virar region of Maharashtra. The money laundering probe stems from multiple FIRs alleging illegal building and fraud against buyers. The investigation uncovered 41 illegal buildings on reserved land, which were later demolished, leaving families homeless. During earlier raids, INR 8.6 crore in cash and INR 23.25 crore in valuables were seized from a town planning official's residence. The ED's action signals a crackdown on real estate fraud and corruption.Read more

Haryana has taken a major leap forward by digitising its land-bank system and linking it to the nationwide India Industrial Land Bank, enabling seamless e-auctions and post allotment services. Simultaneously, the state is rolling out plug-and-play flatted factories at major industrial hubs. Steps to ease business like slashing Change-of-Land-Use documents from 19 to 5, self-certification for low-risk buildings, and faster pollution consents underscore its commitment. These efforts build on earlier moves, including land-pooling policies, HSIIDC's expansion of IMTs, and major infrastructure projects such as industrial corridors and logistics hubs.Read more

GDA has successfully reclaimed a 10-hectare encroached land parcel in Kanawni, Indirapuram, worth INR 800 crore, after nearly a decade of delay. This forms a crucial part of the larger 34-hectare Indirapuram Extension township project. The authority has begun preparing detailed project reports and development proposals, aided by a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that resolved prior compensation disputes. The reclaimed land is earmarked for residential and commercial use and is expected to host a major affordable housing cluster.Read more

The Defence Estates Office, Delhi Circle, has reclaimed five acres of prime land in Delhi Cantonment from unauthorized occupation. The site, valued at approximately INR 165 crore, was illegally used by dairies and shanties. This operation, part of an ongoing drive, follows a previous reclamation near IGI Airport. The reclaimed land is now available for strategic Defence use. The Defence Estates Organisation, which manages nearly 18 lakh acres across India, plans further actions to protect national assets from encroachment.Read more

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami has marked his government's four-year completion by highlighting the revision of the state's land law. This new legislation restricts the sale of agricultural and horticulture land in 11 out of 13 districts, aligning with public sentiment. The reform centralizes land purchase permissions from the collector level to the state government, particularly for transfers over 12.5 acres and in thrust sectors. It also mandates affidavits for residential land purchases, aiming to protect state resources from land misuse and fraud, impacting urban development and resource management.Read more

One of Maharashtra's fastest-growing urban hubs, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has launched an Urban Design Cell to bring structure, sustainability, and aesthetic sensibility to civic development. Spearheaded by Municipal Commissioner Manisha Khatri, the cell comprises experienced architects, town planners, engineers, and heritage conservationists. It is set to guide the city's planning through climate-conscious, pedestrian-friendly, and culturally sensitive design strategies. This development aligns with the Maharashtra government's broader mandate to institutionalize urban design cells across 421 local bodies for more coordinated and future-ready infrastructure growth.Read more

The Chandigarh administration has escalated its anti-encroachment campaign in Manimajra, demolishing ten unauthorized homes and reclaiming nearly 1.5 acres of government land. The land, part of a 38-acre parcel acquired back in 1998, had been encroached upon over the years, prompting the administration to act firmly. The operation was carried out smoothly under the supervision of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (East), with adequate police deployment and prior notice given to residents. This move follows a series of similar crackdowns across the city, including the recent clearing of the Manimajra motor market, reflecting the city's broader push for disciplined urban planning and land use.Read more

Uttar Pradesh has introduced a transformative draft of its 2025 Building Construction and Development Byelaws, aiming to modernize and accelerate urban development across the state. The proposed framework does away with construction permits for small plots, automates the approval process, eases height and floor area ratio (FAR) limits in key areas, and supports flexible mixed-use zoning. By shifting to a trust-based, tech-driven model, the state hopes to reduce delays, increase transparency, and support vertical expansion in rapidly growing cities. Final approval awaits cabinet notification.Read more