19 Feb 2025

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has temporarily suspended its plan to concretise the Auxilium Convent Road in Pali Hill after strong opposition from local residents. The decision followed a formal complaint highlighting concerns about dust pollution, environmental damage, and access issues for emergency vehicles. BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani directed civic officials to engage with residents before proceeding further. Similar opposition has been observed in other parts of Mumbai, including Bandra West, Colaba, and Marine Drive, where citizens have urged the civic body to prioritise roads in poor condition rather than reconstructing those in good shapeRead more

19 Feb 2025

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has introduced new demolition procedures in line with Supreme Court guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability. Affected parties will now receive a 15-day notice and a personal hearing before demolition, with all actions video-recorded. Notices will also be sent to district collectors in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri, and Sanga Reddy. Builders must now secure Occupancy Certificates before granting occupancy, and financial institutions will verify approvals before sanctioning loans. GHMC will conduct regular site inspections to prevent unauthorized constructions, aiming to enhance urban governance and regulatory compliance.Read more

19 Feb 2025

The Greater Ludhiana Development Authority (GLADA) continued its crackdown on unapproved and haphazard development, demolishing three illegal colonies on the outskirts of the city, in Ladian Kalan and Hussainpura. The demolition, led by district town planner Sandeep, included the removal of boundary walls, roads, passages, and sewer manholes under construction. GLADA also warned the public against investing in such unapproved colonies, urging action against those misleading residents with promises of cheap plots in areas that fail to meet government standards. Past efforts by GLADA highlight the ongoing battle against illegal development in Ludhiana.Read more

18 Feb 2025

The Maharashtra government is considering implementing the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulation (UDCPR) across the Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR), even as the region's overall development plan remains pending. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed initial support for the proposal during a recent PMRDA meeting in Mumbai. The move, once formalized via a Government Resolution (GR), could standardize building norms, boost development fees, and streamline infrastructure planning. Developers and urban planners see this as a step toward affordable housing and better urban management, though public engagement will be key to ensuring an inclusive and practical implementation.Read more

18 Feb 2025

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is using drone technology to survey the Madhuban Bapudham housing scheme as part of a land audit, aiming to improve accuracy in land records. The scheme, launched in 2014, covers 1,234 acres and 2,750 plots. The drone survey will help correct mapping errors, including plots mistakenly allocated on crematorium land. Traditionally, manual zonal maps led to discrepancies, but digital integration will enhance precision. GDA officials assured affected allottees of reallocation. This technological upgrade aims to ensure transparency, reduce errors, and establish a reliable digital land record system for improved urban planning and development.Read more

17 Feb 2025

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is expected to see a 5% decline in road construction in FY2026, with execution projected at 9,500-10,000 km, down from 10,000-10,500 km in FY2025, according to ICRA. The slowdown stems from reduced project awards over the past two years, with only 3,100 km awarded in 9M FY25, much lower than 5,835 km in 9M FY23. Toll collections are forecast to grow 7-9% in FY26, driven by a 3.5-5% traffic increase and moderate toll rate hikes. Despite these challenges, expressway projects and monetization efforts may offer long-term sector resilience.Read more

14 Feb 2025

The Harekala Gram Panchayat in Ullal taluk is finalizing a project to provide land to 270 homeless families in Malar village. Spread over 9.5 acres, the initiative, backed by Speaker UT Khader, will allocate three cents per family with essential infrastructure. Revenue officials are verifying applications to prevent duplication. The panchayat is also identifying additional revenue lands for future housing projects. The effort aligns with government housing schemes, ensuring sustainable housing solutions in rural areas. Once allocations are complete, construction assistance will be sought from the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation Limited.Read more

14 Feb 2025

With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) planning to involve private entities in the development and maintenance of open spaces along the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP), citizens have urged the civic body to establish a dense, native tree forest on a 70-hectare land parcel near the arterial road. The 7.5-km-long promenade is expected to open by May 2025, but development on the landward side is yet to commence. In response, Save Our Coast Mumbai has initiated an online petition, which has garnered over 13,500 signatures, calling for ecological zoning, transparent public consultation, and the integration of the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP) to enhance air quality and climate resilience. Citizens advocate for a zoning strategy that includes a dense forest for residential protection, a green public area, and walking trails with medicinal and fruit-bearing trees.Read more

13 Feb 2025

India is set to approve upcoming highway projects under the Vision 2047 roadmap, as confirmed by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. He assured that sufficient funds are available for highway development, despite a flat budget allocation for the roads ministry for the 2025-26 fiscal year. He highlighted that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has strong borrowing capacity, with investor confidence reflected in oversubscribed infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs). In 2023-24, the national highway construction rate reached 12,300 km, averaging 34 km per day. Delhi is witnessing significant infrastructure projects worth INR 1 lakh crore, including the Dwarka Expressway and Urban Extension Road-II.Read more

13 Feb 2025

Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) cited adverse weather, climate change, and a high water table as reasons for infrastructure project delays. Heavy rainfall, sandy soil, and early monsoons hindered sewerage and road construction, making excavation difficult. To ease traffic, temporarily restored roads were made operational. Work resumed in November 2024 after the monsoon subsided. The Smart City Mission deadline was extended to March 2025, with roads set for completion by then, while landscaping and tree plantation will finish by June 2025. IPSCDL stated that Panaji's position below sea level and rising sea levels further complicated construction efforts.Read more