Ludhiana News Desk

31 Mar 2026

The Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) has received more than 1,500 applications for the allotment of 179 remaining flats under its Atal Apartment Scheme, reflecting renewed interest in the long-pending housing project. The applications include demand across both middle-income and high-income categories, with the draw of lots scheduled for mid-April. The scheme, located at Shaheed Karnail Singh Nagar on Pakhowal Road, is currently under construction and is expected to be completed later this year. Officials attribute the response to visible construction progress and comparatively lower pricing against nearby private developments. The project forms LIT's only active housing scheme and is being closely monitored following earlier delays in execution and delivery timelines.Read more

31 Mar 2026

The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority has notified its 10th amendment to the General Regulations, 2019, bringing changes focused on homebuyer protection. The update allows buyers in unregistered projects to file complaints and seek relief, addressing a long-standing gap. It also caps charges on transfer and succession of property, especially easing the process for family members. These measures aim to improve transparency, streamline dispute resolution, and reduce financial burden on buyers. The move builds on earlier regulatory efforts to strengthen accountability in the real estate sector and ensure better consumer safeguards.Read more

31 Mar 2026

The Union government is examining a proposal to merge Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and IRCON International, two Navratna public sector enterprises under the Ministry of Railways, to create a larger infrastructure execution entity. The plan, currently under inter-ministerial review, aims to combine engineering, project management and financial capabilities to improve efficiency and enable the combined entity to undertake larger domestic and international projects. The proposal will require approvals from the Ministry of Finance, Department of Public Enterprises and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Both companies currently operate independently across railway construction, electrification and infrastructure segments, and the consolidation is expected to reduce overlap while strengthening execution capacity and project delivery scale.Read more

31 Mar 2026

The Supreme Court has dismissed a review petition by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), confirming that landowners whose land was acquired for highway projects between 1997 and 2008 are entitled to extra compensation, including solatium and interest. The court ruled that the projected financial burden of around INR29,000 crore cannot justify denying statutory rights. It also set a cut off date of March 28, 2008, limiting claims to unsettled cases. Compensation already paid cannot be recovered. The ruling strengthens landowners rights while maintaining legal certainty.Read more

30 Mar 2026

The Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UP-RERA) has announced a defined filing window from April 1 to April 15 for developers to submit quarterly progress reports (QPRs) for registered projects. The mandatory disclosures, covering the quarter ending March, include updates on construction progress, approvals, and project status. The regulator has cautioned that failure to comply may attract penalties of up to 5% of the project cost under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016. The directive follows recent enforcement action against non-compliant developers and reinforces regulatory oversight aimed at improving transparency and accountability across the state's real estate sector.Read more

30 Mar 2026

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has partnered with INSEAD, Singapore, to boost capacity building and professional excellence in the metro rail sector. This MoU establishes a platform for knowledge exchange between DMRC Academy and INSEAD, focusing on strategic, business, and customer service aspects of metro operations. The collaboration combines DMRC's extensive experience in urban transport systems with INSEAD's expertise in leadership and management education. It aims to enhance skill development, encourage innovation, and implement global best practices in metro management, strengthening urban transit operations and workforce capabilities.Read more

30 Mar 2026

Vadodara Municipal Corporation is preparing to raise around INR 200 crore through a proposed blue bond issuance by mid-year, aimed at financing water management projects. The civic body has received regulatory approvals, and the credit rating process is currently underway. Blue bonds, similar to green bonds, are linked to sustainable infrastructure and may qualify for central government incentives. The corporation has previously accessed the bond market, raising INR 100 crore each through municipal bonds in 2022 and green bonds in 2024. The move comes amid stable but slightly declining revenue receipts and rising expenditure, reflecting the need for alternative funding sources for urban infrastructure development.Read more

30 Mar 2026

The government has instructed the RBI to maintain retail inflation at 4 per cent with a 2 per cent tolerance until March 2031, marking the second confirmation of this target since 2016. The CPI rose to 3.21 per cent in February. The RBI has reviewed the inflation framework ahead of the next five-year cycle, seeking feedback on whether headline or core inflation should guide policy, the relevance of the 4 per cent target, and possible adjustments to the tolerance band. India's flexible inflation-targeting framework has largely succeeded in stabilizing prices and maintaining policy credibility.Read more

30 Mar 2026

Delhi's latest budget for FY27 dedicates INR 8,374 crore to transform the city's transport system with a focus on cleaner, sustainable mobility. Funding prioritises the expansion of the metro under DMRC Phase IV and Phase V, development of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors, and electric vehicle adoption. The EV bus fleet will grow from 4,400 to 5,800, with a longer-term target of 12,000 by 2029. Investments also include charging infrastructure, new automatic testing stations, and feasibility studies to reduce congestion and pollution in the city.Read more

30 Mar 2026

The Supreme Court has ruled that interest and solatium on land acquired under the NHAI Act cannot be restricted based on the financial burden of the acquiring authority. Interest must follow the Land Acquisition Act at nine per cent rather than the five per cent cap under the NHAI Act. The court rejected NHAI's plea to review an earlier ruling, despite the increase in projected liability. It also emphasized that finalized cases cannot be reopened, balancing the protection of landowners rights with legal certainty and closure in land acquisition disputes.Read more