09 Jan 2025

The Gujarat cabinet has approved the creation of nine new municipal corporations, increasing the total to 17, marking the first expansion in 14 years. Navsari, Gandhidham, Morbi, Vapi, Anand, Nadiad, Mehsana, Porbandar, and Surendranagar will gain corporation status, streamlining governance and boosting urban development. Anand and Surendranagar corporations will integrate nearby municipalities. The initiative aims to improve infrastructure, services, and funding. Administrators will oversee the transition before elections. Part of a broader strategy, the move underscores Gujarat's focus on addressing urban challenges and enhancing quality of life for its growing population. Wards will be delimited soon to finalize the process.Read more

09 Jan 2025

The Noida Authority plans to construct peripheral roads around 20 villages along the Noida Expressway to protect residential areas from encroachment and define boundaries using satellite imagery. Following the UP government's 2024 recommendations, physical surveys revealed significant village expansion since 2011. The initiative addresses farmers' demands for better compensation and residential land development, while regularizing leaseback limits to 1,000 square metres. Villages in emerging areas will benefit most. The project reflects Noida's commitment to balancing urban growth with farmers' interests, promoting sustainable development and safeguarding community rights amidst rapid urbanisation. Surveys and implementation are being expedited.Read more

09 Jan 2025

The Noida Authority is formulating a policy that would allow registries for residential plots and flats transferred through multiple general powers of attorney (GPAs). The policy aims to legitimise property ownership, recover lost revenue, and resolve long-standing legal issues. The policy could address the uncertainties around property ownership that have affected thousands of residents, particularly in sectors like Jalvayu Vihar. With an updated fee structure for subsequent GPA transfers, the initiative seeks to create a transparent system while boosting government revenue through stamp duty and transfer fees.Read more

09 Jan 2025

Kerala is set to introduce a pioneering urban policy to guide development over the next 25 years. The state, which initiated an Urban Policy Commission (KUPC) with support from the AMRUT scheme, has already presented its interim report focusing on economic growth, urban governance, and planning. Kerala's rapid urbanisation presents opportunities and challenges, such as addressing climate change, improving infrastructure, and resolving financial inefficiencies in local governance. Recommendations include increasing local revenue, fostering private investment through municipal bonds, and focusing on sustainable urbanisation, all aimed at setting a national benchmark.Read more

09 Jan 2025

Earlier this week, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) allotted 343 tenements to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to resettle families displaced by the INR 18,838-crore Thane-Borivali twin tunnel project. While the allotment paves the way for the project to proceed, displaced families are unhappy about being moved from Borivali East. They have demanded in-situ rehabilitation or construction of additional housing to accommodate all 650 affected families. The 11.84-km long tunnel, expected to reduce travel time between Thane and the western suburbs, is set for completion by mid-2028.Read more

09 Jan 2025

The government has demolished several illegal structures and homes in Cunchelim-Bardez that were built on land acquired for a multi-religious burial ground. The land, valued at INR 11 crore, was meant for a crematorium catering to three communities. Following a survey by the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records, it was discovered that the land had been encroached upon. As many as 140 illegal houses are at risk of demolition, with some already taken down earlier this week. Local authorities oversaw the demolition, with former residents watching as heavy machinery removed their homes.Read more

08 Jan 2025

The Bombay High Court has temporarily halted the distribution of 80 transit apartments in MHADA's Bombay Dyeing Mill redevelopment project, providing relief to over 35 former mill workers. The workers alleged irregularities, including "double allotments," and claimed only six of the 11 buildings on the site were allocated to them, violating Development Control Regulations. The petitioners demanded all 240 apartments in the current construction be reserved for workers, citing a lengthy waiting list. This case underscores the ongoing housing struggles of Mumbai's mill workers, who have sought accommodations since the mills' closure. The court will review the matter in February 2025 to ensure compliance with housing regulations.Read more

08 Jan 2025

The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has issued show cause letters to 39 builders for failing to follow air pollution control regulations. If the builders fail to respond satisfactorily, their construction efforts may be halted. Earlier this week, TMC reviewed its air pollution control measures, which included fines for infractions, the installation of air quality monitoring systems, and tight debris management restrictions. The TMC has also issued fines on various vehicles and companies that violated pollution standards, proving its commitment to reducing air pollution in the city.Read more

08 Jan 2025

The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) in Gurugram has cancelled the occupation certificates (OCs) for 81 houses in DLF Phase 5 for breaching building codes, zoning laws, and approved plans. These properties, originally designated for the economically weaker section (EWS), were found to have exceeded construction limits, with some buildings extending to five or six floors instead of the approved three or four. Many were also being used for illegal commercial purposes. This move follows an earlier survey by the district town planner, which led to notices and sealing actions for over 100 houses.Read more

08 Jan 2025

The Supreme Court recently delivered a verdict affirming the constitutional right to property under Article 300-A of the Constitution. It highlighted the importance of ensuring individuals receive adequate compensation when their land is acquired by the government. The case involved the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor Project, where landowners had been deprived of compensation for over 22 years due to delays by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board. The Court directed the Special Land Acquisition Officer to reassess the compensation based on market value as of 2019 and emphasized the need for prompt action in such cases.Read more