26 Jun 2025

The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation has ramped up enforcement against unauthorised construction and water theft ahead of the monsoon. In Gulmandi, officials razed two dozen illegal shop extensions and a hazardous building, while traders near Rangar Galli were warned to self-demolish encroachments. In Kiradpura, over 100 illegal water connections were cut, restoring supply to legal users. Recent drives also cleared 340 encroachments on Beed Bypass Road and bulldozed 229 structures in Mukundwadi, sparking protests over alleged due process violations. Earlier efforts used robotic tools to detect hidden pipelines. Authorities warn that unpaid irrigation dues could delay the city's main water project.Read more

26 Jun 2025

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation has flagged over 1,200 buildings as structurally unsafe-up from 450 last year-prompting evacuation notices to around 700 households, especially in old city areas like Aishbagh. Legal disputes over property rights and political pushback have stalled repairs and demolitions, even as monsoon risks loom. Many unsafe buildings obstruct stormwater channels or sit atop drainage lines, worsening flood management in a city already prone to waterlogging. Experts warn that unchecked urbanisation and encroachments over historical water bodies have left Bhopal ill-equipped for seasonal rains. Despite annual warnings, slow enforcement and infrastructure neglect continue to hinder meaningful action.Read more

26 Jun 2025

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has carried out a demolition drive in the Ghansoli area against unauthorised constructions, which continued despite prior notices issued under Section 54 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. The demolition was ordered by the civic chief and executed under the supervision of senior officials. RCC structures rising up to four storeys were razed as they lacked necessary permissions. Officials have signalled a stricter crackdown on future violations across the region.Read more

26 Jun 2025

The Himachal Pradesh government has appointed retired IAS officer R D Dhiman as Chairman of the state's Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), filling a leadership vacuum since December 2024. Dhiman, a former Chief Secretary and Chief Information Commissioner, is expected to restore efficiency and oversight. Former IAS officer Amit Kashyap has also been appointed as a RERA member. Their appointments aim to boost transparency, project approvals, and homebuyer protection amid rising real estate activity in cities like Shimla and Dharamshala. These strategic moves signal the state's commitment to strengthening real estate governance under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.Read more

26 Jun 2025

The Bombay High Court has struck down Section 17(2) of Goa's Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, criticising unchecked land-use conversions in Bardez taluka, including Calangute and Candolim. Between March 2023 and early 2024, over 353 approvals reclassified 2.65 million sqm of orchards and paddy fields into settlement zones-bypassing planning norms and public scrutiny. The court called the move 'disastrous,' highlighting systemic failures in Goa's urban planning. This follows past judicial interventions halting Outline Development Plans and the 2021 Regional Plan notification. While the Goa government has appealed the decision, the ruling marks a win for civic groups seeking transparent, eco-sensitive development.Read more

25 Jun 2025

The Andhra Pradesh government has widened its relaxed building norms to benefit low-rise and small-scale construction projects. Developers can now mortgage 10% of their plot area or use affidavits for government land. Balconies up to 1.5 metres, mandatory CCTV, and clear road width and sewage plant placement norms have been established. TDR bonds will compensate for road widening, while licence validity extends to three years. Small buildings under 50 sqm can be approved for just INR-1. These reforms follow earlier streamlining efforts like single-window clearances and are targeted at reducing red tape and supporting affordable development.Read more

25 Jun 2025

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has hinted at upcoming land law reforms aimed at easing property development restrictions on smaller land parcels, particularly in urban areas like Nagpur. A new law, expected in the monsoon session, will allow development on one-guntha plots (1,000 sq. ft.) in residential zones, effectively amending current rules that limit land fragmentation. The move is expected to simplify property transactions and boost housing availability. The minister also confirmed that residents of Kumbhari village, affected by land acquisition near Nagpur, will receive full rehabilitation benefits. The proposed reforms aim to balance urban planning with increased flexibility in land use.Read more

25 Jun 2025

The Union government has overhauled its highway bidding process to improve execution and prevent delays. Under new guidelines from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, all land, environmental, forest, and wildlife clearances must be secured before inviting project bids-replacing the earlier norm of 90% land acquisition. Land acquisition must begin 60 days after finalizing highway alignment, and 90% of the right-of-way must be awarded before a Letter of Award is issued. These reforms aim to streamline approvals, minimize contractual disputes, and curb cost overruns. The Centre plans to award 9,000 km of highways in FY26 under this new, more efficient framework.Read more

25 Jun 2025

YEIDA has commissioned a detailed audit of 12 long-stalled housing projects by Jaiprakash Associates Ltd. (JAL) along the Yamuna Expressway, aiming to assess work progress, unit counts, and pending construction. The review, led by consultant firm Currie & Brown, is expected by mid-July. The stalled projects stem from a 2008 land allotment for a sports city, later cancelled in 2020 due to unpaid dues. The Allahabad High Court upheld YEIDA's move, instructing it to safeguard homebuyers' interests.Read more

25 Jun 2025

The Supreme Court has ruled that builders must refund the purchase amount with agreed interest in case of delayed possession but are not liable to reimburse buyers' home-loan interest. The case involved a Mohali project where buyers withdrew due to a 2-3 year delay and sought both the refund with 8% contractual interest and their SBI loan interest. The Court allowed only the contractual interest, stating that developers are not responsible for buyers' private financing. The decision overturns earlier consumer forum rulings and affirms that builders' obligations stem from contracts and statutory terms-not from individual loan burdens taken by buyers.Read more