30 Jul 2025

The Maharashtra government has repealed the 'Tukde Bandi' law, a move expected to benefit thousands of property owners across the state, particularly in Pune, by allowing the regularization of "gunthewari" properties. This decision means land divisions up to one guntha (1,089 sq ft) made before January 1, 2025, can now be regularized, enabling owners to secure property registration and building permits. While the move brings hope for long-awaited property rights, concerns remain over the high regularization charges under the new scheme, which are significantly higher than previous costs, even as the state forms a committee to oversee implementation.Read more

29 Jul 2025

The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is set to launch an innovative one-window system for building permissions on August 15. This system, a first in Maharashtra, aims to simplify the application process for citizens, builders, and architects by enabling online submissions and automated forwarding to relevant departments. With set deadlines for official approvals and online tracking, the initiative promotes transparent governance and efficient service delivery. This move builds on KDMC's history as a digital governance pioneer and aligns with the broader "Ease of Doing Business" agenda, streamlining urban development processes.Read more

29 Jul 2025

Gurugram's Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) demolished 13 unauthorised colonies covering over 40 acres. The crackdown targeted areas in Kadarpur, Dhankot, Kherki Majra and Bhondsi, where illegal plotting, boundary walls, and under-construction buildings were removed. More than 50 structures, including internal roads and plinths, were dismantled. This drive is part of DTCP's broader effort to curb illegal developments and protect planned urban growth. The department also issued warnings in licensed colonies where commercial misuse and construction violations were detected.Read more

29 Jul 2025

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has identified 351 illegal colonies, covering approximately 3,000 acres, and is cautioning residents against investing in these properties. Many of these unauthorized settlements have emerged over the past few decades, with 30 new ones appearing since 2021. Despite regular demolition drives and the development of an AI-enabled detection system, GDA faces challenges, especially with older colonies, as buyers often misunderstand that property registration alone provides legal validity. This issue, exacerbated by middlemen, highlights a persistent legacy problem in urban planning and enforcement across Ghaziabad.Read more

29 Jul 2025

The Delhi High Court has recently sought responses from the Delhi government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) regarding a petition to ban unauthorized constructions in areas like Jaitpur Extension and Badarpur. The plea, filed by advocates Shiv Shankar and Ajay Kumar Singh Chauhan, argues that these illegal structures pose safety risks, cause accidents, including building collapses, and hinder the regularization of colonies. The petition also claims widespread corruption among officials, stating minimal action has been taken against thousands of unauthorized buildings, a situation that highlights ongoing challenges in urban planning and enforcement.Read more

28 Jul 2025

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) undertook a demolition drive in Ghansoli after unauthorised RCC construction continued despite prior notice. The action was initiated under the guidance of the Municipal Commissioner and senior civic officials, targeting illegal work on a ground-floor column and a progressing first-floor slab by a local developer. The civic team, supported by police personnel, deployed labourers and breakers to remove the structure. The NMMC confirmed that similar encroachments would face intensified enforcement going forward.Read more

27 Jul 2025

The Andhra Pradesh government has announced plans to reintroduce the Building Penalisation Scheme (BPS) and Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) in response to the rising number of unauthorised constructions across the state. A recent assessment revealed over 35,000 buildings that have never been taxed and more than 25,000 illegal layouts. These schemes, originally implemented during the previous Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government, aim to legalize unapproved constructions and bring them under municipal regulation. However, before implementation, the state must obtain approval from the Cabinet and clearance from the High Court, which had earlier raised concerns that such schemes could encourage future violations.Read more

25 Jul 2025

Punjab has revised its land-pooling policy to offer improved financial incentives, faster approvals, and wider inclusion of small landowners. Farmers now get INR 50,000 per acre upfront, INR 1,00,000 annually (with 10% hike for delays), and the option of both residential and commercial plots in return for contributed land. The updated policy applies to over 40,000 acres and assures no forced acquisition, no third-party interference, and full rights to farmers. Despite these changes, protests led by political and farmer groups continue, who claim the policy benefits developers at the cost of rural communities.Read more

24 Jul 2025

The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has initiated an e-auction process for around 200 residential plots located across some of the city's most sought-after areas, including Basant Kunj, Priyadarshani Colony, Kanpur Road, and both Gomtinagar and its extension. The available plot sizes range from 60 m² to 252m². Complete details including base prices, plot numbers, and location maps are available online. This move follows a recent auction of premium plots and commercial complexes, forming part of the LDA's wider strategy to better utilize idle land and meet the city's growing demand for organized housing.Read more

24 Jul 2025

Following the Maharashtra cabinet's approval to merge civil areas of Pune and Khadki cantonments with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), debate has sparked over Floor Space Index (FSI) norms for redevelopment. Currently capped at 0.5 in cantonment zones, proposed revisions to 1.0 still fall short of PMC's existing FSI range of 1.1 to 3.0. Residents and developers are urging clarity to ensure fair development post-merger. The process awaits final notification from the Centre and requires coordination among PMC, the Defence Ministry, and other agencies. The merger is part of a nationwide move to integrate cantonment civil areas with municipal bodies to streamline governance.Read more

23 Jul 2025

Housing societies across Maharashtra are in limbo over the non-agricultural (NA) tax, despite a state cabinet decision to abolish it for residential areas within municipal limits. Without a formal government resolution (GR), the waiver remains unenforceable. Revenue authorities continue to issue tax demand notices-over 300 in Pune alone-leaving societies burdened by penalties and legal threats. The NA tax, a colonial-era levy on land converted from agricultural to residential use, was expected to be scrapped last year. Divided over whether to pay or wait, many societies and welfare associations are urging the government to act. Officials cite election-related delays for the holdup.Read more

23 Jul 2025

Karnataka's land digitisation drive has converted over 320 million pages of records into secure digital formats, aiming for 1 billion pages by year-end. The initiative, accessible via the Bhu Suraksha portal and local offices, ensures faster, tamper-proof access to land documents. Category A and B records are now digitally available, with rural Bapuji Seva Kendras set to be included soon. A multi-tier review process and encrypted storage with audit logs uphold accuracy and security. While rural districts like Belagavi and Vijayapura show strong progress, Bengaluru Urban lags behind. Once complete, the system will ease delays and protect landowners from fraud and document loss.Read more

22 Jul 2025

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has temporarily halted its online building map approval system to implement the recently revised building bylaws issued by the Uttar Pradesh government. During this transition phase, all building plan approvals will be processed manually, significantly increasing the turnaround time from a few days to nearly a month. This move is expected to impact GDA's monthly revenue, which averages around INR 34 crore. The revised bylaws allow for higher floor area ratios and reduced plot size requirements for group housing projects, aiming to promote vertical development.Read more

22 Jul 2025

In a major boost for Bengaluru property owners, the Karnataka Cabinet has approved the regularization of B-Khata properties issued by BBMP up to September 30, 2024, granting them A-Khata status. This shift enables access to civic amenities, bank loans, and legal transactions. B-Khatas, issued for properties with minor norm deviations or incomplete approvals, had long faced legal and service restrictions. Properties with valid government circulars will now be treated as compliant, while others may be regularized under forthcoming guidelines. The cabinet also moved to resolve land acquisition anomalies and approved five new municipal corporations-ushering in wide-reaching reforms in Bengaluru's urban governance and property framework.Read more

22 Jul 2025

Brigade Enterprises Ltd has acquired a 20.19-acre plot in the Whitefield-Hoskote corridor of Bengaluru for INR 588.33 crore to develop a residential-cum-commercial project with a 4.2 million sq ft development potential. The company anticipates revenue of INR 5,200 crore from the project. Positioned as a landmark development, the project forms a part of Brigade's ongoing growth strategy in South India, where the firm already holds a strong presence.Read more

21 Jul 2025

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) undertook a major demolition initiative targeting unauthorised constructions in Nerul, Airoli, and Belapur. Despite prior notices issued under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, many offenders failed to remove illegal structures. The drive, executed under directives from the municipal commissioner and senior officials, resulted in partial and complete demolition of illegal extensions. Equipment including gas cutters, hammers, and labourers were deployed, and a penalty of INR 50,000 was collected during the operation in Airoli. The civic body has indicated its commitment to continuing such stringent enforcement efforts.Read more

20 Jul 2025

Two unsafe buildings in Margao, Goa, 'Cabecca de Calconde' and Indira Apartments, are set for demolition after delays. The 'Cabecca de Calconde' building, deemed beyond repair in 2018, has seen its demolition pending over 1.5 years despite a November 2023 collector's order. Recent parapet collapses prompted swift action and a May 27 order for immediate demolition. The PWD has shortlisted agencies, but the demolition depends on the Margao Municipal Council's ability to vacate the remaining occupants.Read more

19 Jul 2025

The Gujarat government has rolled out a revamped township policy to boost private participation in large-scale, self-sufficient townships. Addressing shortcomings of its 2009 policy, the new plan offers higher FSI, stamp duty waivers, and lower municipal fees to attract developers. To ease land challenges, the government may provide its own land in difficult-to-aggregate areas. A state-wide redevelopment and Transferable Development Rights (TDR) framework is also in the works, allowing developers to use TDRs across cities. Managed by digital city-level committees, the new system aims for transparent, fair valuations. The inter-city TDR model follows successful examples from Mumbai and Pune.Read more

17 Jul 2025

The Punjab government has initiated a major overhaul of the Banur Master Plan by proposing the conversion of vast stretches of agricultural land across nearly 18 villages into residential zones. This decision follows continuous demands from gram panchayats and locals seeking better land utilisation in light of growing housing demand. The updated plan includes four new residential sectors to be developed in phases. Authorities have called for public objections or suggestions before formal implementation.Read more

17 Jul 2025

Mumbai Police have filed an FIR against Hiranandani Builders & Developers for unauthorized excavation and soil erosion near the Powai helipad. The BMC issued a notice on July 7, 2025, but work on the 300m long, 4-5m wide, and 1-2m deep excavation continued despite a stop-work order issued on July 5. The case, registered under sections 52 and 43 of the MRTP Act, highlights continued activity even after civic body intervention. This action follows the BMC approaching police after its notices were not complied with.Read more