16 Mar 2026

Services on a newly opened stretch of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation network were disrupted after signalling cables were stolen from the track section between Bhalswa and Majlis Park. Nearly 1,000 metres of cable were removed, affecting the signalling system and forcing trains to run at restricted speeds, leading to delays for commuters. The corridor had become operational only days earlier as part of the Delhi Metro expansion. Police arrested one suspect and recovered burnt cable pieces during the investigation, while authorities began restoration work and increased surveillance along vulnerable sections of the route.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

16 Mar 2026

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) plans to generate around 20,000 affordable homes in Mumbai through large-scale cluster redevelopment projects covering nearly 800-1,000 acres across the city. The initiative forms part of the authority's strategy to increase housing supply for economically weaker sections (EWS) and lower income groups (LIG) while redeveloping ageing housing layouts built several decades ago. According to MHADA vice president and chief executive officer Sanjeev Jaiswal, the redevelopment of large residential clusters is expected to produce about 10 lakh sq m of housing stock over the next six to seven years, primarily in the 500-700 sq ft segment. Several MHADA layouts and older urban neighbourhoods, including Motilal Nagar, SVP Nagar, GTB Nagar in Sion, Abhyudaya Nagar, Kamathipura, and Mandvi Reclamation, are among the projects in various stages of planning, tendering, or implementation.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

16 Mar 2026

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified enforcement against property tax defaulters in Mumbai, initiating attachment proceedings against 6,922 properties with cumulative dues amounting to approximately INR 6,089 crore for the financial year 2025-26. The action forms part of the civic body's ongoing tax recovery drive as the financial year approaches closure. Authorities have already seized 483 properties and proposed auction proceedings for 210 properties where dues remain unpaid despite repeated notices. Following the enforcement action, 2,888 property owners cleared outstanding taxes totalling more than INR 784 crore. As of early this week, the civic body had collected around INR 6,024 crore, representing about 82% of its property tax target for the current fiscal year. Municipal officials have warned that stricter measures, including seizure and auction of properties, will continue against defaulters who fail to settle dues before the financial year-end.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

16 Mar 2026

A sessions court in Mumbai has granted anticipatory bail to a developer and three relatives in connection with a cheating and criminal breach of trust case linked to a redevelopment project in Mazgaon, south Mumbai. The case was filed after a complainant alleged that the developer had failed to provide an alternate shop promised under a redevelopment agreement, leading to a dispute over the implementation of the project. While hearing the anticipatory bail plea, the court observed that significant payments had already been made to the complainant's family and noted that the dispute largely stemmed from contractual obligations within the redevelopment arrangement. Considering the nature of the allegations and the financial transactions involved, the court held that custodial interrogation was not necessary at this stage and granted the accused protection from arrest subject to conditions.Read more

Pune News Desk

16 Mar 2026

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has earmarked INR 954 crore in its draft budget for FY2026-27 to fund infrastructure development in villages merged into the city's municipal limits in recent years. The allocation is aimed at addressing gaps in civic amenities such as roads, sewage networks and water supply in peripheral areas incorporated into the PMC jurisdiction through administrative expansion. The funding forms part of the civic body's proposed INR 13,995 crore municipal budget presented earlier this week by municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram. Officials said the investment is intended to standardise urban infrastructure across the expanded city and respond to demands from residents and elected representatives in newly incorporated areas who have raised concerns over inadequate services. The initiative also follows the transfer of planning authority for several merged villages from PMRDA to PMC.Read more

16 Mar 2026

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) recently took action against two commercial properties in the Keshavpuram area due to unpaid property tax exceeding INR 1.33 crore. Located in Paschim Vihar and GT Karnal Industrial Area, the properties had ignored repeated notices to clear dues. The civic body acted under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act. Property owners were advised to utilize the Sumpattikar Niptaan Yojana (SUNIYO) scheme, which allows waiver of penalties and interest on dues up to financial year 2020-21 if principal amounts for current and past five years are paid before the scheme deadline.Read more

15 Mar 2026

The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the Haridwar-Roorkee Development Authority (HRDA) to withdraw permissions granted for plotting and group housing developments on agricultural and orchard land in Haridwar district. The directive was issued by a division bench while hearing a public interest litigation alleging that the authority had allowed residential development on farmland despite earlier court restrictions. The court instructed HRDA to revoke the approvals within a week, warning that failure to comply would invite contempt proceedings. The case relates to a petition filed in 2023 that cited earlier High Court and Supreme Court rulings prohibiting such development in the state due to the limited availability of agricultural land. The High Court also noted that the state government had not sought modification of the earlier order after the Supreme Court declined to interfere with it in 2024.Read more

Ghaziabad News Desk

15 Mar 2026

The property tax revision implemented by the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) has triggered widespread protests across the city, prompting Mayor Sunita Dayal to assure residents that the increased tax rates may soon be rolled back. The controversy stems from a revised tax framework introduced from April 2025, which in some cases increased annual property tax liabilities by three to four times. Residents and trader groups across areas such as Indirapuram, Sidharth Vihar and Vijay Nagar have reported sharp increases in tax bills, leading to demonstrations and political pressure on the civic administration. While the mayor stated that the state government had indicated that the hike would not be implemented, GMC officials said they had not yet received any formal directive to withdraw the revised tax structure. The issue has created administrative uncertainty even as the municipal corporation continues issuing tax notices under the updated regime.Read more

15 Mar 2026

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a new affordable housing policy aimed at increasing housing supply for economically weaker sections and middle-income families in urban areas. The policy supports the Affordable Housing in Partnership and Affordable Rental Housing components under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban 2.0. Beneficiaries will receive INR 1.5 lakh assistance from the central government and INR 1 lakh from the state government. Developers will receive exemptions on several project-related charges, while homebuyers will get stamp duty relief. The policy also introduces a structured rental housing model to support urban workers and low-income households.Read more

15 Mar 2026

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has carried out an anti-encroachment operation in Airoli to remove unauthorised construction undertaken without approval under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966. The action was taken after the property owner failed to comply with a notice issued by the civic body in November 2023 directing the removal of the illegal structure. The demolition was conducted at a property located in Deshmukhwadi, Sector 1, Airoli, under the jurisdiction of the G Ward office. The operation was carried out under the direction of Municipal Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde and senior civic officials overseeing the encroachment department. Municipal staff, labour teams and police personnel were deployed to execute the partial demolition of the structure as part of ongoing enforcement measures against unauthorised construction within the municipal limits.Read more