India's top eight cities now host 993 million sq ft of office space valued at USD 187 billion, per Knight Frank, with the figure expected to cross 1 billion sq ft this quarter. Bengaluru leads with 229 million sq ft, followed by Delhi-NCR and Mumbai. Grade A offices make up 53% of total stock, reflecting a shift in workspace demand. Experts note the rising role of Global Capability Centres and the growing need for sustainability and employee wellbeing. Shruti Singh of Carbon Guardians stressed integrating EHS principles and designing performance-based workplaces as India enters a new phase of office growth.Read more

The National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) urged the government to expedite the approval processes for real estate developments, highlighting the resulting benefits of lower input costs and accelerated supply of housing and commercial properties. NAREDCO also called attention to the pressing need for skilled construction labour and proposed greater collaboration between the government and industry bodies for workforce training. Challenges such as high land costs, regulatory delays, and inadequate rental policies were flagged as obstacles affecting affordable housing and overall sectoral growth.Read more

India's housing sector witnessed a shift in buyer preferences in the first half of 2025, with overall home sales across eight major cities declining by 5%, but the total transaction value rising by 9% to INR 3.59 lakh crore. A joint report by CREDAI and CRE Matrix highlighted that higher property prices and demand for larger, better-located homes have driven this surge. Despite fewer units being sold, cities like Delhi-NCR saw a notable jump in market value share, especially in premium segments led by Gurugram and Noida.Read more

Nagpur's Metro Phase 3 has received formal approval in a high-level meeting with CM Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari. MahaMetro and RITES have prioritised the 11.5 km Sitabuldi-Koradi corridor, featuring Nagpur's first underground stretch and expected to serve 1.47 lakh daily riders by 2054. A second route, Mankapur Chowk-Rachana Junction, will begin with bus services and may shift to metro later. The city's CMP spans 3,780 sq km and includes outer ring roads, electric buses, parking, and freight terminals. A feeder bus from Kasturchand Park will connect to key offices in Civil Lines and Sadar to ease last-mile travel and encourage metro use.Read more

India's real estate sector is regaining momentum, with increased optimism among developers and financial institutions, according to the NAREDCO-Knight Frank Real Estate Sentiment Index for April-June. The Current Sentiment Score rose to 56 from 54, while the Future Sentiment Score jumped to 61, ending a four-quarter decline. The rebound is driven by economic stability, lower inflation, strong GST collections, reduced interest rates, and growing demand in premium housing and office leasing, especially from GCCs and co-working operators. NAREDCO President Hari Babu and Knight Frank CMD Shishir Baijal emphasized the sector's resilience, improved liquidity, and its readiness for sustained growth in the coming months.Read more

The Centre has approved the extension of Noida Metro's Aqua Line to Boraki, a 2.6-kilometer elevated stretch costing INR 416 crore. This extension, expected to be completed within three years, aims to connect the Aqua Line to a proposed multi-modal transport hub at Boraki, integrating rail, bus, and rapid rail services. This development is a key part of a broader strategy to ease road traffic congestion and improve connectivity to the upcoming Noida International Airport from Noida and Delhi. The project, funded by shared contributions from the Centre, Uttar Pradesh government, and a loan, is projected to serve a daily ridership of 60,000 by 2031.Read more

India's residential real estate sector witnessed a recalibrated momentum during Q2 2025, characterised by shifting developer strategies, premium housing focus, and uneven performance across metros. According to ANAROCK's latest findings, while overall sales dropped by 20% year-on-year, the total value of housing sales marginally rose by 1%, reflecting a tilt towards high-value homes. Mumbai led in inventory levels and pricing, whereas NCR and Pune presented mixed outcomes driven by affordability challenges and inventory absorption trends.Read more

The Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (APMRC) has initiated the e-tendering process for Phase 1 of the Vijayawada Metro project, marking a major step towards bolstering urban connectivity in the region. This phase, spanning 38.4 km, will feature elevated corridors with 28 stations across two key corridors. The project will be executed on an EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) basis and incorporates plans for intermodal integration with existing transport modes.Read more

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has proposed four new metro corridors for Ghaziabad, aiming to significantly enhance regional connectivity, particularly with Noida. These extensions, totaling approximately 25 kilometers and estimated to cost INR 7,500 crore, include extending the Blue Line to Sahibabad and a Pink Line extension to Arthala, linking parts of Delhi to Hindon Civil Terminal. With the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs now funding the preparation of detailed project reports, these projects have a better chance of advancing.This development promises to improve public transport access for over 5 lakh residents and integrate key areas like Indirapuram, Vasundhara, and Vaishali, alongside providing air connectivity.Read more

The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is set to launch an innovative one-window system for building permissions on August 15. This system, a first in Maharashtra, aims to simplify the application process for citizens, builders, and architects by enabling online submissions and automated forwarding to relevant departments. With set deadlines for official approvals and online tracking, the initiative promotes transparent governance and efficient service delivery. This move builds on KDMC's history as a digital governance pioneer and aligns with the broader "Ease of Doing Business" agenda, streamlining urban development processes.Read more