16 Feb 2026

Homebuyers association Forum For People's Collective Efforts (FPCE) has alleged that over 75 per cent of state real estate regulators are failing to publish mandatory annual reports under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. Citing non-compliance with Section 78 of the Act, the group urged the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to issue fresh directions to all state RERA authorities and push state governments to take action under Sections 82 and 83 against erring regulators. FPCE also sought amendments empowering the Centre to remove authorities or members for defying directives, arguing that credible annual data is essential to assess sectoral reforms and protect homebuyers.Read more

16 Feb 2026

The Enforcement Directorate has moved a Mumbai special court seeking to declare Nirav Modi's brothers, Neeshal and Nehal Modi, as Fugitive Economic Offenders in the Punjab National Bank fraud case. The hearing is scheduled for February 18. The agency has alleged that the two helped route and conceal proceeds of crime through shell companies and overseas transactions. Nehal Modi is fighting extradition from the US, while similar action has also been sought against senior executives of Nirav Modi's firm. The case involves alleged fraud exceeding INR 23,780 crore.Read more

16 Feb 2026

The government has projected total expenditure of INR 53.47 lakh crore for the next financial year, reflecting a 7.7 per cent rise over the current fiscal. Capital expenditure has been raised to a record INR 12.2 lakh crore, with effective capex reaching INR 17.1 lakh crore after including long-term state loans. The fiscal deficit is estimated at 4.3 per cent of GDP, while tax receipts are projected at INR 44.04 lakh crore. The Budget maintains focus on debt reduction, state funding, healthcare infrastructure, and support for farmers.Read more

16 Feb 2026

India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued 352 show-cause notices to scheduled commercial airlines over the last two years for various regulatory violations. The data was shared by the civil aviation ministry in Parliament. IndiGo received the highest number of notices, followed by Air India and Air India Express. Of the total notices issued, penalties were imposed in 139 cases, while 113 resulted in warnings. The regulator continues close monitoring of airline operations, safety standards and fleet expansion activity.Read more

16 Feb 2026

The Jammu Development Authority (JDA) had formally regularised 31 residential colonies in Jammu based on a series of government orders issued between 1974 and 2009, alongside judicial directions from 2010. However, the High Court recently stayed the regularisation process. The Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister clarified that future residential colonies will only be developed after proper land allotment, either through self-financing or Public-Private Partnership models with statutory board approvals. The Janipur Housing Colony did not require regularisation as its plots were legally allotted during its early 1970s establishment. The government also acted against unauthorised residential-to-commercial conversions in the city.Read more

16 Feb 2026

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a series of meetings with Union ministers in the national capital, pressing for accelerated execution of the Polavaram irrigation project, release of INR 1,211 crore pending under various farm schemes, and expansion of railway infrastructure. He highlighted inter-state water disputes, sought approvals for new irrigation and river-linking projects, discussed organic farming promotion, and pushed for Swachh Andhra's zero landfill initiative. Naidu also acknowledged central support in reviving Vizag Steel Plant and requested continued cooperation for funding and project approvals across key sectors.Read more

Visakhapatnam News Desk

16 Feb 2026

The Union government is expected to grant approval soon for the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the proposed Vizag Metro Rail project, sources said, with an in-principle approval order anticipated within the next few days. Once cleared, the project will be referred to relevant ministries and placed before the Public Investment Board for appraisal and final sanction. The metro scheme, covering approximately 46.23 km with 42 stations across three corridors, carries an estimated cost of INR 11,500 crore. Funding is planned jointly by the Union and Andhra Pradesh governments, each contributing around 20 per cent, while the balance is expected to be raised from international lenders at competitive rates. Tendering activity has already started ahead of formal approval, with the successful bidder likely to be announced once the DPR is finalised. Approval is seen as a key milestone in advancing urban mobility and infrastructure in the city.Read more

15 Feb 2026

The Asian Development Bank has approved an additional USD 182 million loan to strengthen flood and riverbank erosion management in Assam, extending an ongoing programme along the Brahmaputra River. The funding adds to the earlier USD 200 million project approved in 2023 and will cover four more high-risk river stretches. The expanded programme focuses on risk-informed planning, stronger flood protection infrastructure, and improved resilience for vulnerable rural communities that face repeated flooding, land loss, displacement, and damage to livelihoods due to erosion and extreme weather events.Read more

15 Feb 2026

The Haryana government has initiated steps to strengthen aviation safety at state-owned aerodromes by constituting a high-level technical committee to frame standard operating procedures aligned with DGCA norms. The move aims to formalise ongoing maintenance, inspection, and safety practices and assess the need for additional technical manpower. During a recent review chaired by the chief secretary, departments were directed to ensure coordinated and time-bound upkeep of aerodrome infrastructure. The decision comes amid increased focus on operational readiness and regulatory compliance at facilities such as Bhiwani, Narnaul, Pinjore and Karnal.Read more

15 Feb 2026

The Maharashtra cabinet has approved a detailed land acquisition and allotment policy to support the development of the proposed Third Mumbai region along the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link corridor. The policy enables land procurement through mutual agreement or statutory compensation, offers a 22.5% developed land return to project-affected owners, and introduces a pass-through mechanism to activate undeveloped land parcels. Priority land allotment will be given to large Foreign Direct Investment proposals meeting defined investment and land thresholds, with implementation led by MMRDA and the New Town Development Authority.Read more