17 Mar 2026

The Karnataka government has approved industrial investment proposals worth INR 4,824.31 crore across 37 new projects and two expansion proposals during the 158th meeting of the State Level Single Window Approval Committee. The projects are expected to generate about 14,525 employment opportunities across 13 districts including Vijayapura, Bagalkote, Chitradurga, Kolar and Ramanagara. According to the state industries department, the approved investments cover a range of sectors such as IT infrastructure, technical textiles, compressed biogas, aerospace, electronics manufacturing, jewellery production, software services and hospitality development. Of the total approvals, 22 large and medium projects involve investments exceeding INR 50 crore, while 15 projects fall in the INR 15-50 crore range. The approvals form part of the state government's strategy to expand industrial capacity and attract investments across multiple districts.Read more

17 Mar 2026

The Fifth State Finance Commission in Karnataka has recommended allowing property owners to pay property tax through monthly EMI-style instalments instead of a single annual payment. The proposal aims to reduce the burden of lump-sum payments and improve compliance among taxpayers in Bengaluru and other urban local bodies under the Greater Bengaluru Authority. The commission has also suggested measures such as door-to-door property surveys, digital verification through e-khata records, drone mapping and voluntary disclosure schemes to identify unassessed properties. Officials estimate that nearly 5 lakh properties remain outside the tax net, and bringing them under assessment could generate around INR 700 crore annually.Read more

Ludhiana News Desk

17 Mar 2026

The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has introduced a doorstep property tax collection service to make payments easier for residents and improve recovery of pending dues. Under the system, civic teams equipped with handheld POS machines will visit residential and commercial properties to assess and collect tax on the spot. The corporation has deployed 48 machines across four municipal zones and allows payments through cash, cards, UPI, bank drafts, and digital transfers with instant receipts. Officials said the move is aimed at recovering pending payments and helping the civic body reach its annual property tax target of INR 160 crore.Read more

17 Mar 2026

The Prayagraj Municipal Corporation has approved a 40% rebate on house tax for residential buildings that are more than 20 years old within the municipal limits. The decision was passed during a municipal house meeting and will be implemented from April 2026. Eligible property owners will receive the rebate automatically without submitting any application. The move is expected to benefit residents living in older neighbourhoods where many structures have crossed two decades. During the same meeting, the civic body also revised its 2025-26 budget, increased allocations for water services, and proposed a one-time settlement scheme to recover long-pending property tax dues.Read more

16 Mar 2026

The Punjab government has earmarked INR 1,000 crore in the state budget to strengthen urban infrastructure through the Municipal Development Fund (MDF), marking a substantial increase from the previous allocation. The funding will be made available to urban local bodies across the state to support the creation and upgrading of civic infrastructure such as roads, water supply systems, sewerage networks, drainage, sanitation and solid waste management. State officials indicated that the enhanced allocation is intended to help municipalities address growing pressure on civic services caused by urban population growth and expanding city limits. A portion of the fund will also be used for the operation and maintenance of water supply and sewerage infrastructure to ensure continued service delivery. The initiative forms part of Punjab's broader urban development strategy aimed at improving municipal infrastructure and service efficiency.Read more

16 Mar 2026

Housing sales across the primary residential markets of India's 50 major cities declined by 3 per cent in 2025 to about 6.14 lakh units, even as the overall transaction value increased 16 per cent to INR 8.46 lakh crore, according to a joint report released by industry body CREDAI and research firm Liases Foras. The report attributes the increase in sales value to rising demand for premium and luxury housing segments, which have gained prominence in recent years. Homes priced above INR 1 crore accounted for a significant share of total sales value, reflecting changing buyer preferences and higher property prices. The study also noted that metropolitan regions continue to dominate housing sales, although Tier II cities are gradually emerging as important markets supported by infrastructure development and expanding employment hubs.Read more

Indore News Desk

16 Mar 2026

Property guideline rates in Indore are likely to increase significantly as the district administration prepares a revision for the upcoming financial year. Authorities have proposed merging 533 property registration locations to reduce discrepancies in valuation and simplify the registration process. The change may lead to rate increases in nearly 3,000 locations, with some areas seeing hikes of up to 200%, especially in developing outskirts and villages along infrastructure corridors. Officials say the move will help prevent revenue loss and improve transparency, though the city has already seen a nearly 10% decline in property registrations due to rising prices.Read more

16 Mar 2026

India's Tier II and Tier III cities are expected to lead the next phase of growth in the residential property market as affordability pressures in major metropolitan regions begin to affect housing demand, according to a report by real estate consultancy Square Yards. The report noted that a sharp rise in property prices between 2022 and 2024 has reduced home affordability in large urban centres such as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata. Limited supply of affordable and mid-income housing in these markets has further constrained buyer participation. In contrast, smaller cities are witnessing stronger price-to-income alignment and lower entry ticket sizes, creating a more accessible homeownership environment. The consultancy expects housing demand in the coming years to be more geographically diversified and driven largely by end-user demand linked to employment growth beyond metropolitan areas.Read more

Delhi News Desk

16 Mar 2026

The Delhi government is preparing to introduce a Green Budget for the financial year 2026-27 to integrate environmental priorities into its fiscal planning. The initiative aims to track public spending related to pollution control, clean energy, water conservation and biodiversity protection across various departments. By mapping such expenditures, the government intends to improve transparency and ensure that sustainability initiatives receive focused funding. The move comes as Delhi continues to face severe air pollution and rising urban pressures. Officials believe the framework will help guide future investment decisions and strengthen the city's long-term environmental planning.Read more

Chennai News Desk

16 Mar 2026

Southern Railway has started the process of leasing out a newly built multi-level parking facility at Chennai Egmore railway station through an online auction. The parking area is located inside a Multi-Functional Complex on the Gandhi-Irwin Road side of the station and includes the second, third and fourth floors of the structure. The selected licensee will manage vehicle movement, parking operations, maintenance and manpower at the site. Railways have also allowed the possibility of introducing services such as EV charging stations and pay-and-use facilities with prior approval. The move is part of ongoing efforts to improve passenger amenities and traffic management at the busy station.Read more