2 minutes ago

• Maharashtra’s Vision 2047 tourism plan targets INR 1 lakh crore investment and 18 lakh jobs.
• The roadmap includes PPP tourism projects, MICE infrastructure, cruise tourism and heritage circuits.
• Proposed MMR projects include island tourism, waterfront developments and coastal infrastructure.Read more

2 hours ago

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has reported increased usage of its WhatsApp chatbot service launched on mobile number 8291920504, as citizens increasingly access municipal services, property tax payments and civic information through digital platforms. The civic body stated that over 113 services, including birth and death certificates, property tax, water charges and construction-related permissions, are now available online through integrated systems. According to NMMC, more than three lakh citizens have received property tax notifications through the chatbot platform, while over 7,000 users have completed payments using WhatsApp payment links. The municipal authority also stated that approximately INR 10 crore was collected following digital message campaigns conducted in March 2026. The chatbot service supports both Marathi and English languages and functions as part of NMMC’s broader digital governance and citizen service delivery strategy.Read more

Nagpur News Desk

16 May 2026

A district court in Nagpur has upheld the eviction proceedings initiated by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation over a prime 15,000 sq m land parcel located on Subhash Road near Agyaram Devi Square, dismissing multiple civil appeals filed against the civic body’s notices. The disputed land had originally been leased to Abhyankar Smarak Trust in 1937 for charitable purposes, but the lease expired in 1967 and was not renewed thereafter. According to the court order, portions of the land were subsequently sublet to commercial establishments without municipal approval. The ruling clears the way for the civic authority to proceed with repossession of the site for a proposed public development project and reinforces municipal powers relating to occupation of public land after expiry of lease agreements.Read more

16 May 2026

The Income Tax Department has detected discrepancies worth nearly INR 45,000 crore in real estate transactions after conducting searches and verification exercises at sub-registrar offices in Gurugram and Mohali. The investigation focused on possible irregularities in reporting high-value property deals, including suspected undervaluation and incomplete disclosures. Officials are examining transaction records, registration data and financial filings to identify mismatches. The findings come amid tighter scrutiny of the real estate sector, where authorities have been increasing monitoring of property transactions to curb tax leakage, cash dealings and reporting irregularities across major markets.Read more

16 May 2026

The Reserve Bank of India is anticipated to transfer its highest-ever dividend to the government, offering a strong fiscal support at a time when global uncertainties, including the Middle East situation, are affecting economic planning. Last year, RBI’s dividend stood at INR 2.69 lakh crore, significantly higher than the previous year’s INR 2.11 lakh crore. The upcoming decision is expected in the RBI board meeting scheduled later this month. Alongside this, strong profitability from public sector banks and other financial institutions is expected to support higher-than-budgeted non-tax revenue for the government in the coming fiscal year.Read more

16 May 2026

• The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority is expected to hand over implementation of the Mahalunge–Maan Town Planning Scheme to the Pune Municipal Corporation after nearly eight years of delays.
• The 250-hectare scheme, proposed in 2017 for the rapidly developing Hinjewadi corridor, has faced repeated administrative and jurisdiction-related hurdles following the merger of parts of the project area into PMC limits.
• Maharashtra’s urban development department recently approved the first variation of the preliminary town planning scheme, removing a key regulatory hurdle for implementation.
• The project proposes planned urban development including road infrastructure, sewage networks, open spaces, public amenities, and organised residential and commercial layouts.
• Officials stated that a formal government notification is awaited to finalise transfer of project execution responsibilities to PMC.Read more

16 May 2026

• The Goa government has designated more than 82 lakh sqm of land as No Development Zones (NDZs) to restrict construction activity in ecologically sensitive regions across the state.
• The decision, approved by the Town and Country Planning Board, covers hill slopes, mound areas, sand dunes, islands, and other environmentally vulnerable locations including Majorda, Gonsua, Vagheri Hill, and Sao Jorge Island.
• Authorities stated the move aims to prevent hill cutting, land flattening, and unregulated development amid growing urbanisation and tourism-led construction pressure in Goa.
• Separately, the Union environment ministry has approved Goa’s proposal to declare nearly 6,729 hectares along the Mandovi and Zuari riverbanks as eco-sensitive zones.
• The state government indicated that additional ecological protections for rice fields and low-lying areas may also be considered in the next phase of land preservation measures.Read more

16 May 2026

• The Centre is expanding implementation of the SVAMITVA scheme to issue legal property cards for residential land parcels in rural areas across India.
• The programme uses drone surveys and geospatial mapping technology to demarcate inhabited village land and generate digital ownership records.
• According to government data, millions of property cards have already been distributed across participating states under the scheme.
• The initiative is aimed at reducing land disputes, improving rural land governance and enabling property owners to access institutional finance using documented assets.
• The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in coordination with state governments, Survey of India and local Panchayati Raj institutions.Read more

16 May 2026

The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) held a stakeholder consultation in Amaravati to discuss draft Sustainable and Green Public Procurement Guidelines aimed at promoting low-carbon and environmentally responsible infrastructure development. Supported by the World Bank programme, the proposed framework focuses on integrating sustainability into public procurement through life cycle costing, use of low-carbon construction materials, energy-efficient building practices, and climate-resilient infrastructure. Officials, industry representatives, consultants, and technical experts also discussed pilot projects and inclusion of green materials in the State Schedule of Rates to support wider adoption across upcoming projects in Amaravati.Read more

16 May 2026

The Centre has approved INR 257 crore under the Urban Challenge Fund to support major infrastructure works in Nashik ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027. The projects, proposed by the Nashik Municipal Corporation, are part of a larger INR 1,900 crore development plan focused on roads, water supply, sewerage systems, river rejuvenation and urban mobility. The funding comes as Maharashtra accelerates preparations for the religious gathering expected to attract millions of devotees. Along with civic upgrades, authorities are also focusing on sustainability, traffic management and long-term urban infrastructure improvements across Nashik and Trimbakeshwar.Read more