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

22 Jul 2025

The Tamil Nadu government has revamped property valuation rules to enhance transparency and align with market realities. A key change is the formal definition of 'composite value' which now includes both the built-up area and undivided land share of a flat's resolving past ambiguity in multi-storey building valuations. Valuation committees can now revise guideline values year-round, instead of only in October. New rules also factor in property quality, location, road access, and amenities under the Tamil Nadu Apartment Ownership Act, 2022. District registrars have been instructed to implement the changes immediately, with updated guideline values to be published online shortly.Read more

22 Jul 2025

In a major boost for Bengaluru property owners, the Karnataka Cabinet has approved the regularization of B-Khata properties issued by BBMP up to September 30, 2024, granting them A-Khata status. This shift enables access to civic amenities, bank loans, and legal transactions. B-Khatas, issued for properties with minor norm deviations or incomplete approvals, had long faced legal and service restrictions. Properties with valid government circulars will now be treated as compliant, while others may be regularized under forthcoming guidelines. The cabinet also moved to resolve land acquisition anomalies and approved five new municipal corporations-ushering in wide-reaching reforms in Bengaluru's urban governance and property framework.Read more

22 Jul 2025

Meghalaya's Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) has begun actively overseeing registration of all real estate projects, developers, and agents in the state. Located at the Urban Affairs Complex in Shillong, the RERA office serves as the central hub for enforcing the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. The Act mandates transparent project disclosures, dedicated escrow accounts for buyer funds, and accountability for timely project delivery. With a full-time chairman and two members, the Authority has urged all stakeholders to comply or face penalties. This move aims to protect homebuyers, streamline dispute resolution, and promote greater professionalism in Meghalaya's growing property market.Read more

22 Jul 2025

Karnataka has introduced a comprehensive regulatory mechanism for groundwater extraction, making charges and digital metering mandatory for all user categories. Rates vary from INR 1 to INR 35 per cubic metre, depending on usage and groundwater zone classification. Residential, commercial, and industrial users must obtain NOCs and install approved meters. Tanker operators face strict volume caps. Penalties for non-compliance range from INR 5,000 to INR 200,000. Revenues will fund recharge and conservation projects to help reverse decades of groundwater overuse. The move marks a decisive shift toward sustainable and accountable water management in the state.Read more

22 Jul 2025

Bhopal is set to roll out a major upgrade to its Sampada 2 platform, allowing homebuyers to register both sale deeds and mortgage documents in a single digital appointment. This eliminates the need for separate visits and streamlines the entire property registration process. Users will receive final documents in PDF format, reducing paperwork and in-person collection. The system will auto-link sale and loan records, with future plans for Aadhaar-based eKYC and digital payments. Part of a wider national move toward digitised land records, this reform supports faster, transparent transactions and benefits buyers, banks, and real estate developers alike.Read more

22 Jul 2025

A consumer forum in Ghaziabad has held a cooperative bank liable for losing a borrower's original property documents despite full loan repayment. The documents went missing during the bank's branch relocation from Ghaziabad to Noida. The borrower, who sought the return of his papers much later, was told they were untraceable. The commission has directed the bank to pay INR 25,000 for mental distress and INR 5,000 for litigation expenses. The bank must also assist in obtaining certified copies of the lost deed. This case reflects increasing regulatory pressure on lenders to maintain stringent safeguards over customer documents.Read more

21 Jul 2025

Ahmedabad's urban lakes are under threat, as outdated planning schemes by AUDA have led to the loss of significant waterbody areas. Early town planning models applied uniform land deductions even on lake beds, shrinking lakes in areas like Bopal, Vastrapur, Thaltej, and Memnagar. Vastrapur Lake alone lost over 22,000 sq m. Merged land parcels and unclear boundaries have triggered ownership disputes and complicated restoration. Despite AMC's updated planning norms, older legally binding maps have caused irreversible damage. A Gujarat government report noted a 46% decline in lake areas due to construction and encroachment. The National Green Tribunal has launched formal proceedings to address the crisis.Read more

21 Jul 2025

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has released its third master plan, introducing higher Floor Space Index (FSI) allowances near transport corridors to promote vertical, transit-oriented development. This move aims to curb urban sprawl and support compact, sustainable growth across the newly expanded Chennai Metropolitan Area. The plan includes a phased rollout of FSI norms, tied to infrastructure upgrades in roads, water, sewage, and public transit. Built on extensive stakeholder input, it emphasises inclusivity, accountability, and performance monitoring. Key features include TOD zones, walkable neighbourhoods, blue-green infrastructure, and satellite town development-signalling a bold shift toward smarter urban planning and climate resilience.Read more

21 Jul 2025

The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) concluded its final public consultations for the Draft Master Plan-2041 after extensive stakeholder engagement across Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, and Vizianagaram. Concerns over potential land-use favoritism prompted a deadline extension and the formation of a technical committee to review feedback. Spanning 6,700 sq km, the plan includes key infrastructure like Vizag Metro, Bhogapuram Airport, and the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor. It also proposes transit-oriented zones, slum upgrades, and smart infrastructure. Focused on sustainable, inclusive development, the plan aims to balance growth with environmental protection and decentralised urban expansion across the fast-growing coastal region.Read more