17 Jul 2026

Chhattisgarh has completed more than 11 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) over the past two-and-a-half years, with nearly six lakh homes delivered during FY2025-26, the highest annual completion by any state in the country. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai marked the milestone in Raipur by handing over house keys to beneficiaries and releasing a progress report on the 'Mor Gaon-Mor Pani' campaign. The state has also completed 1.51 lakh houses in the first 100 days of the current financial year, while continuing to expand rural water conservation works alongside its housing programme.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

16 Jul 2026

• The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has identified multiple instances where the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) extended undue financial and development benefits to private developers during the implementation of slum rehabilitation schemes in Mumbai, particularly airport-linked projects.
• The audit found irregularities including excess Transferable Development Rights (TDR), additional free-sale built-up area, disproportionate Floor Space Index (FSI) allocation and short recovery of infrastructure charges, resulting in significant financial gains for developers.
• The CAG estimated that excess benefits included INR 187.17 crore through additional free-sale TDR, INR 48.66 crore via excess land TDR and nearly INR 100 crore through excess free-sale entitlement, besides infrastructure charges that were either under-calculated or not recovered.
• The audit has recommended stronger regulatory oversight, stricter compliance with Development Control Regulations (DCR) and improved monitoring of rehabilitation projects to safeguard public interest and ensure transparency in slum redevelopment.Read more

16 Jul 2026

• Haryana's Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has ordered an urgent structural audit of Ramprastha Primera in Gurugram following complaints over the condition and safety of balconies and other structural components.
• The audit comes in the wake of a recent balcony collapse at another Gurugram residential society, prompting authorities to intensify safety inspections of high-rise housing projects across the city.
• The structural assessment will examine balconies, slabs, beams, columns and other critical building elements to identify defects, assess structural stability and recommend necessary repairs or corrective measures.
• The move is part of the state's broader effort to strengthen building safety, preventive maintenance and regulatory oversight, while ensuring the long-term structural integrity of residential developments and restoring residents' confidence.Read more

16 Jul 2026

Residents across several housing colonies in Bhopal have urged civic authorities to expedite the completion of long-pending infrastructure works, citing inadequate roads, drainage, streetlights, water supply and sewage facilities despite years of occupancy. Homebuyers and resident welfare associations have called on the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Bhopal Development Authority (BDA) to strengthen oversight of developers, ensure timely delivery of promised civic amenities and establish clear timelines for pending works. The grievances have highlighted the need for better coordination between developers and government agencies to improve urban infrastructure and enhance the quality of life in the city's growing residential neighbourhoods.Read more

16 Jul 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate four redeveloped railway stations in Punjab under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme on 17 July. According to Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the upgraded Jalandhar Cantonment Railway Station in person and virtually dedicate the redeveloped stations at S.A.S. Nagar (Mohali), Sri Muktsar Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib. The station redevelopment programme has introduced upgraded passenger facilities, improved accessibility, modern concourses and enhanced commuter amenities while retaining the local architectural character of each station. The initiative forms part of the Centre's broader programme to modernise railway infrastructure and improve transport connectivity across the country.Read more

16 Jul 2026

The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition challenging the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance granted for the renovation and expansion of actor Shah Rukh Khan's sea-facing residence, Mannat, in Mumbai's Bandra. The apex court declined to interfere with an earlier order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had upheld the approval granted by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA). The petition had questioned the legality of the environmental clearance for the addition of two floors to the property. With the Supreme Court refusing to entertain the appeal, the renovation and expansion project can proceed in accordance with the statutory approvals already granted.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

16 Jul 2026

• The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has demolished an unauthorised school building in Govandi, marking the civic body's first demolition of an illegally constructed educational institution in Mumbai.
• The action followed complaints and inspections that found the school building had been constructed without mandatory civic permissions and in violation of development regulations.
• Civic officials carried out the demolition with police protection after issuing statutory notices and completing the legal process, while ensuring that students were not present during the operation.
• The BMC said the move reflects its stricter stance against illegal constructions, irrespective of the nature of the establishment, and warned that similar action would be taken against other unauthorised structures.Read more

16 Jul 2026

The Ladakh administration has announced plans to establish Autonomous Hill Development Councils (AHDCs) in all seven districts of the Union Territory, extending the decentralised governance model beyond Leh and Kargil. The move follows the creation of five new districts earlier this year and is intended to strengthen local governance, improve administrative efficiency and enhance public participation in development planning. Officials said legislative amendments, constituency delimitation and other preparatory steps will be undertaken before the new councils are constituted, while discussions are also underway on a broader institutional framework for the Union Territory.Read more

16 Jul 2026

• A car caught fire inside the northbound tunnel of Mumbai's Coastal Road, prompting authorities to temporarily close the tunnel and divert traffic.
• The occupants of the vehicle escaped safely, and no injuries or casualties were reported.
• Firefighters responded quickly and brought the blaze under control before it spread to other vehicles or tunnel infrastructure.
• The incident caused traffic congestion along nearby stretches before normal movement was restored after emergency operations were completed.Read more

16 Jul 2026

A government-appointed audit committee has permitted construction to resume at only 11 of 136 high-rise project sites surveyed across Kolkata and adjoining urban areas following a comprehensive safety review. The inspections were ordered after the Taratala warehouse collapse, which prompted the West Bengal government to temporarily suspend work on major construction projects. The audit examined structural stability, approved building plans, construction quality, geotechnical conditions and regulatory compliance. Projects that failed to meet the prescribed standards must rectify deficiencies before receiving permission to restart work, reflecting the state's renewed emphasis on construction safety and regulatory oversight.Read more