24 Jul 2025

Following the Maharashtra cabinet's approval to merge civil areas of Pune and Khadki cantonments with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), debate has sparked over Floor Space Index (FSI) norms for redevelopment. Currently capped at 0.5 in cantonment zones, proposed revisions to 1.0 still fall short of PMC's existing FSI range of 1.1 to 3.0. Residents and developers are urging clarity to ensure fair development post-merger. The process awaits final notification from the Centre and requires coordination among PMC, the Defence Ministry, and other agencies. The merger is part of a nationwide move to integrate cantonment civil areas with municipal bodies to streamline governance.Read more

23 Jul 2025

The Supreme Court recently granted permission to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file 22 criminal cases, equivalent to First Information Reports (FIRs), following initial findings of an "unholy nexus" between banks, builders, and development authorities in the National Capital Region (NCR). The probe primarily focuses on irregularities under the subvention scheme, where builders allegedly defaulted on EMI payments despite receiving loan disbursements directly from banks, leaving homebuyers burdened by delayed possession. This decisive judicial action aims for a thorough investigation across multiple developers and regions, seeking to bring accountability and provide clarity to affected homebuyers.Read more

23 Jul 2025

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has taken decisive action against unauthorised constructions in Belapur, following non-compliance with prior demolition notices. Structures owned by Suresh Dharma Koli, Balkrishna Dharma Koli, and Ashok Koli in Diwale village were razed under the MRTP Act. The operation, led by the encroachment department under senior civic officials, involved a full deployment of manpower and equipment. NMMC has indicated that such intensified action will continue to deter encroachments in future.Read more

23 Jul 2025

The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has begun approving compounding maps under the new 2025 Model Building Construction and Zoning Bylaws. This move allows property owners to legalize previously unauthorized constructions by aligning them with updated regulations, avoiding penalties. Announced during a Janata Adalat by LDA Vice Chairperson Prathamesh Kumar, the initiative assigns zonal officers specific targets-75 to 220 approvals per zone-to expedite processing. The new rules also permit greater land coverage and a higher Floor Area Ratio (FAR), offering more design flexibility. This framework aims to streamline regularization and improve public welfare through transparent and efficient building compliance processes.Read more

23 Jul 2025

Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA) has rolled out key reforms to protect homebuyers and strengthen its role in the state's growing real estate market. A major change mandates district collectors to include RERA enforcement in monthly reviews, integrating local administrative machinery with ORERA operations. The housing department will now collaborate with the revenue and disaster management departments to enforce penalties under the Orissa Public Demands Recovery Act. ORERA Chairperson Asit Kumar Mohapatra emphasized institutional strengthening and state coordination as top priorities. He also highlighted the importance of raising public awareness to ensure the success of these reforms and improve buyer confidence.Read more

23 Jul 2025

Telangana RERA has fined Countryside Realtors INR 38.59 lakh for serious violations at its long-delayed Westend Greens villa project in Mokila, Ranga Reddy. Out of 117 planned villas, only 20 have been delivered-missing key amenities like roads, sewage systems, and a clubhouse. Buyers accused the developer of misleading promotions and unauthorized layout changes, while also alleging threats against dissenting residents. RERA found the firm guilty of false advertising, unauthorized modifications, and failing to register the project. Further sales are banned until fresh approvals and registration are secured. If violations continue, the developer must refund buyers with compensation for delays and distress.Read more

23 Jul 2025

Karnataka's land digitisation drive has converted over 320 million pages of records into secure digital formats, aiming for 1 billion pages by year-end. The initiative, accessible via the Bhu Suraksha portal and local offices, ensures faster, tamper-proof access to land documents. Category A and B records are now digitally available, with rural Bapuji Seva Kendras set to be included soon. A multi-tier review process and encrypted storage with audit logs uphold accuracy and security. While rural districts like Belagavi and Vijayapura show strong progress, Bengaluru Urban lags behind. Once complete, the system will ease delays and protect landowners from fraud and document loss.Read more

23 Jul 2025

Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has taken strong action against public space encroachments, penalising 4,890 individuals and contractors for leaving construction materials like sand and debris on footpaths and roads. The six-month campaign, led by Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, covered all ten city zones and collected INR 1.16 crore in fines-INR 93.16 lakh from individuals and INR 23.20 lakh from builders. Laxmi Nagar saw the most violations. Under civic rules, materials left in public areas must be cleared within 48 hours or face fines of INR 2,000 (residents) and INR 10,000 (builders). Additionally, over 7,000 were fined for blocking roads with temporary structures. The drive aims to reclaim safe, usable public spaces.Read more

23 Jul 2025

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has made it mandatory for all future town planning schemes to reserve at least 5% of land for green spaces, with 1% specifically for Miyawaki forests. The initiative aims to boost biodiversity and align with WHO's recommended green cover of 9 sqm per person. Tree-cutting now requires planting 10 saplings per tree, with survival conditions and a refundable deposit of INR 5,000. New guidelines call for tree-lined footpaths, green road dividers, rain gardens, and rooftop parks. An Urban Greening Advisory Committee and ward-level Green Committees will oversee implementation. The policy tackles rising pollution and heat levels through sustainable urban afforestation.Read more

22 Jul 2025

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has temporarily halted its online building map approval system to implement the recently revised building bylaws issued by the Uttar Pradesh government. During this transition phase, all building plan approvals will be processed manually, significantly increasing the turnaround time from a few days to nearly a month. This move is expected to impact GDA's monthly revenue, which averages around INR 34 crore. The revised bylaws allow for higher floor area ratios and reduced plot size requirements for group housing projects, aiming to promote vertical development.Read more