The BMC has opened public consultation on a draft regulation (33(27)) to define and incentivise "iconic buildings" under Mumbai's DCPR 2034. Eligible structures must display standout design, scale, or architectural vision. Developers may receive FSI relaxations by paying a premium up to 50% of land value, split between BMC and the state. A high-powered committee, chaired by the Municipal Commissioner and including global and Indian experts, will vet proposals. Public scrutiny of designs is encouraged. The draft mandates non-residential use, 18 m road access, and public plazas. The move echoes Mumbai's legacy of iconic architecture, aiming to blend innovation with heritage-conscious development.Read more

The Noida Authority has challenged the Allahabad High Court's directive to register flats in Lotus Boulevard Espacia and Lotus 300, citing INR 87 crore and INR 160 crore in unpaid dues by developers Cloud 9 and HPPL, respectively. Despite occupancy certificates, flat registrations remain stalled for buyers who have paid in full. HPPL is under insolvency proceedings, though the court clarified promoters are still liable for scrutiny. The court also directed the Enforcement Directorate to investigate alleged fund diversion by Cloud 9's promoters. While the Authority may escalate the matter to the Supreme Court, buyer groups argue that compliant homeowners should not suffer for developer defaults.Read more

Adani Group, Vedanta, Dalmia Bharat Cement, and Suraksha Group-controlled Jaypee Infratech have submitted resolution plans to acquire debt-laden Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL), which is undergoing insolvency proceedings under NCLT's Allahabad Bench. JAL owes nearly INR 57,185 crore and must be resolved as a single entity. Patanjali Ayurveda, though shortlisted, did not bid. JAL's assets include major real estate projects like Jaypee Greens and Wishtown, hospitality properties, non-operational cement plants, and toll and power interests. Each bidder brings a unique strategic angle, with cement, real estate, and infrastructure assets attracting industry-wide attention. The outcome will shape the future of JAL's diverse portfolio.Read more

The Odisha High Court has ordered the Cuttack district administration to submit an immediate status report on over 700 structurally unsafe buildings across the city. The directive follows rising safety concerns in densely populated zones like Nimchouri, Nayasarak, and Buxi Bazar. A joint task force has identified 12 high-risk buildings needing urgent action, with the Sub-Collector instructed to act under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The court demanded an updated affidavit on survey progress and remedial measures. Despite surveys proposed as early as 2010, sustained action has lagged-prompting the court's push for accountability amid incidents of collapses and near-misses.Read more

Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) has moved e-Khata application submissions to Belagavi One centres to curb corruption and reduce delays. Following a surprise inspection revealing manipulation by agents, Commissioner Shubha B suspended manual processing and launched a digital-first system. Citizens can now submit applications directly at two active centres, with two more opening soon. A nominal INR 25 fee is charged, with no middlemen allowed. In 48 hours, BCC cleared 3,854 pending applications. Despite brief server issues, operations are stabilising. The initiative follows a state directive to resolve e-Khata cases within three months and includes public info boards and a helpline for assistance.Read more

The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation has ramped up enforcement against unauthorised construction and water theft ahead of the monsoon. In Gulmandi, officials razed two dozen illegal shop extensions and a hazardous building, while traders near Rangar Galli were warned to self-demolish encroachments. In Kiradpura, over 100 illegal water connections were cut, restoring supply to legal users. Recent drives also cleared 340 encroachments on Beed Bypass Road and bulldozed 229 structures in Mukundwadi, sparking protests over alleged due process violations. Earlier efforts used robotic tools to detect hidden pipelines. Authorities warn that unpaid irrigation dues could delay the city's main water project.Read more

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation has flagged over 1,200 buildings as structurally unsafe-up from 450 last year-prompting evacuation notices to around 700 households, especially in old city areas like Aishbagh. Legal disputes over property rights and political pushback have stalled repairs and demolitions, even as monsoon risks loom. Many unsafe buildings obstruct stormwater channels or sit atop drainage lines, worsening flood management in a city already prone to waterlogging. Experts warn that unchecked urbanisation and encroachments over historical water bodies have left Bhopal ill-equipped for seasonal rains. Despite annual warnings, slow enforcement and infrastructure neglect continue to hinder meaningful action.Read more

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has carried out a demolition drive in the Ghansoli area against unauthorised constructions, which continued despite prior notices issued under Section 54 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. The demolition was ordered by the civic chief and executed under the supervision of senior officials. RCC structures rising up to four storeys were razed as they lacked necessary permissions. Officials have signalled a stricter crackdown on future violations across the region.Read more

The Himachal Pradesh government has appointed retired IAS officer R D Dhiman as Chairman of the state's Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), filling a leadership vacuum since December 2024. Dhiman, a former Chief Secretary and Chief Information Commissioner, is expected to restore efficiency and oversight. Former IAS officer Amit Kashyap has also been appointed as a RERA member. Their appointments aim to boost transparency, project approvals, and homebuyer protection amid rising real estate activity in cities like Shimla and Dharamshala. These strategic moves signal the state's commitment to strengthening real estate governance under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.Read more

The Bombay High Court has struck down Section 17(2) of Goa's Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, criticising unchecked land-use conversions in Bardez taluka, including Calangute and Candolim. Between March 2023 and early 2024, over 353 approvals reclassified 2.65 million sqm of orchards and paddy fields into settlement zones-bypassing planning norms and public scrutiny. The court called the move 'disastrous,' highlighting systemic failures in Goa's urban planning. This follows past judicial interventions halting Outline Development Plans and the 2021 Regional Plan notification. While the Goa government has appealed the decision, the ruling marks a win for civic groups seeking transparent, eco-sensitive development.Read more