11 Aug 2025

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has committed USD 150 million as an anchor investor in HDFC Capital's newly launched H-DREAM Fund, a USD 1 billion initiative targeting affordable and mid-income housing projects across India. The fund, managed by HDFC Capital Advisors, aims to support the construction of over 25,000 green-certified homes following EDGE standards. With this investment, IFC expects to mobilise an additional USD 850 million from global and domestic institutional investors. This move aligns with India's growing housing demand and contributes toward its estimated USD 1.4 trillion green buildings opportunity by 2030, with a strong focus on the residential sector.Read more

11 Aug 2025

AU Small Finance Bank has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India to transition into a universal bank, making it the first small finance bank in nearly ten years to achieve this regulatory milestone. The approval was granted under the RBI's "on-tap" licensing framework after AU met all eligibility conditions, including financial soundness, governance standards, and operational performance. The move allows the bank to broaden its range of services and establish subsidiaries. Following the announcement, the bank's stock surged over 7%, reflecting positive investor sentiment.Read more

10 Aug 2025

The Bombay High Court has granted a final three-week extension to residents occupying the top 18 floors of Willingdon Heights in Tardeo, South Mumbai. These floors have no Occupancy Certificate (OC) or fire No Objection Certificate (NOC), making their occupation illegal. The court allowed the extension solely on humanitarian grounds after the Society cited school-going children and upcoming Jain and Ganesh festivals. The Supreme Court earlier upheld the HC's eviction order and refused to interfere. The residents must now submit an undertaking, failing which the BMC has been authorised to initiate eviction and seal the premises.Read more

10 Aug 2025

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has intensified its crackdown on unauthorised constructions across the city following directives from the Telangana High Court. In recent months, the civic body has issued over 1,500 show-cause notices and demolished more than 200 illegal structures while sealing close to 100 buildings. Major violations include unauthorised floors, deviation from sanctioned plans, and construction without permission, with high-profile localities such as Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills witnessing the most infractions. Officials have been instructed to seal illegal floors immediately after notices are served.Read more

10 Aug 2025

In a bid to address rising demand for affordable housing, the Uttar Pradesh government has initiated steps to launch multiple greenfield township projects across key cities ahead of the festive season. Development authorities have been instructed to expedite land acquisition, with townships in several cities expected to commence by early autumn. A state funding mechanism introduced in 2023, which covers half the cost of land acquisition with a twenty-year repayment plan, is supporting the initiative. Cities like Moradabad, Saharanpur, and Rampur are among those receiving substantial allocations.Read more

09 Aug 2025

The Trump Organization has earned close to INR 175 crore from seven luxury real estate projects in India through licensing deals with developers in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Gurugram. The earnings were generated without any investment or construction responsibility. The company's revenue came mainly from brand licensing and development fees. Its partnership with Tribeca Developers has helped expand the Trump brand's footprint in India to about 11 million sq. ft., making the country the largest market for the brand outside the US.Read more

08 Aug 2025

Luxury home sales in Delhi NCR recorded a 9% rise in the first half of 2025, with 5,168 units sold, up from 4,763 units during the same period last year. Properties priced at INR 5 crore and above now make up 27% of total residential sales in the region, up from 19% in H1 2024. Gurugram led the segment, accounting for over 90% of these transactions. The Southern Peripheral Road and Dwarka Expressway were the key areas contributing to this growth, while overall residential volumes in the region dropped by 23%.Read more

08 Aug 2025

In the past week, a major property tax scam was uncovered in Ahmedabad, affecting more than 1,000 citizens mainly in the city's West Zone. A group of agents allegedly collected cash from property owners over several years, tampered with official records using an AMC employee's login, and falsely cleared dues in the system. As a result, several residents are now receiving backdated bills, some as high as INR 1.59 lakh. The scam is estimated to have caused losses between INR 1.5 crore and INR 2 crore. AMC has not yet taken action against any employees involved or confirmed how much of the fraudulent amount has been recovered.Read more

08 Aug 2025

The Telangana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) imposed significant penalties on two developers earlier this week for breaching project norms and misleading homebuyers. One developer was penalised for unauthorised construction and failure to deliver promised amenities, while another faced action for selling plots without RERA registration. The authority directed both developers to refund amounts with interest and to carry out necessary rectifications at their own cost. These actions highlight the regulator's growing emphasis on accountability and consumer protection within the real estate industry.Read more

08 Aug 2025

A large-scale township project has been launched on Agra's outskirts, marking the city's most ambitious housing initiative in over three decades. Spread across 340 acres, the Atal Puram Township is expected to accommodate nearly 10,000 families. The plan includes residential, group housing and commercial plots, alongside world-class amenities like underground utilities, water treatment systems and public infrastructure. Executed with transparent land acquisition and phased development, the project is poised to redefine Agra's urban expansion with a modern, integrated approach.Read more

08 Aug 2025

The Delhi Development Authority has initiated rent disbursals to residents evacuated from Signature View Apartments, with payments structured according to flat category. Delays in past disbursements had fostered mistrust among residents, leading to reluctance in vacating. However, rent is now being released flat-wise upon confirmation of vacancy. The move aligns with court directions aimed at expediting evacuation, demolition, and eventual redevelopment of the deteriorating housing complex.Read more

08 Aug 2025

Haryana RERA's Gurugram division has issued a show-cause notice to Ramprastha Promoters & Developers Pvt Ltd, warning of possible civil imprisonment over failure to comply with refund orders worth nearly INR 3 crore. Despite directives to return funds to homebuyers and disclose attachable assets, the developer has not acted. This follows the Enforcement Directorate's recent arrest of the company's directors in a money laundering case involving INR 1,100 crore collected for stalled projects like Edge, Skyz, Rise, and Ramprastha City. ED findings include diverted funds, seized luxury assets, and attached property worth over INR 681 crore. HRERA has scheduled the next hearing for early next week.Read more

08 Aug 2025

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has approved a significant 50% waiver on the general tax component of property tax bills for residents and industrial units located in designated 'red zones.' This decision, set to take effect from the financial year 2026-2027, is a compensatory measure for the civic body's inability to provide adequate facilities and services to these areas. The waiver applies to over 43,000 properties but has faced criticism from housing societies who argue it may encourage unauthorized construction.Read more

08 Aug 2025

The Karnataka government has introduced new building setback norms for Bengaluru, which came into effect on August 1st.The new rules, part of the Revised Master Plan 2015, aim to provide clear guidelines on the minimum open space required around a building. The regulations specify setback requirements based on plot size and building height, and also provide clarity on the height of stilt parking. This move is designed to address contentious issues that have arisen from the city's rapid vertical growth and to streamline the construction and approval process for new buildings.Read more

08 Aug 2025

Apartment owners across Kochi have sought government assistance following power disconnection warnings from the electricity board over the absence of sewage treatment plants (STPs). More than 70 apartment complexes were issued notices, leaving over 1,500 households anxious. Residents cited limited space, high installation costs, and pre-existing municipal STPs as reasons for non-compliance. The community has proposed interim measures and plans to seek formal intervention from state authorities.Read more

07 Aug 2025

Housing prices across 13 major Indian cities registered a modest rise this past March, climbing eight points year-on-year to reach 132 on the Housing Price Index (HPI), according to a report by REA India and the Indian School of Business. Despite a slight rise from January, the index remained flat month-on-month in February and March, signalling a stabilizing market. The report attributes this trend to steady demand, cautious buyer sentiment, and fewer new launches, suggesting a maturing and more sustainable housing ecosystem.Read more