The impact of Atal Setu is showing up less in headlines and more in buyer
behaviour across Panvel and Navi Mumbai.
What were once considered peripheral markets are now seeing stronger end-user enquiries and more committed investor participation. Shorter commute times have expanded the practical catchment for homebuyers priced out of central Mumbai, while improved accessibility has reduced the perceived risk for investors. That combination is important. We're already seeing longer holding horizons, increased interest in mid-to-premium residential formats, and growing appetite from developers looking to build at scale.
Connectivity has shifted these markets from speculative plays to liveable, investable ecosystems.
This is how infrastructure quietly reshapes real estate cycles.

Mr. Sanjay Daga, CEO and Managing Director of Anex Advisory

13 Feb 2026

The Atal Setu has effectively redrawn Mumbai's map. Mumbai has traditionally grown northwards because of its island shape, but now a whole new direction of growth has opened up. Historically, we've seen whenever new connectivity opens up, real estate gets a huge boost - look at Brooklyn after the Brooklyn bridge for instance. What's also interesting is that if you map out all locations that are 40 minutes away from South Mumbai, Panvel has by far the lowest property prices. So the Atal Setu is bound to result in stronger residential demand and long-term value appreciation in Panvel and Navi Mumbai.

Mr. Samyag M. Shah, Director of Marathon Nextgen Realty Ltd, CREDAI - MCHI Youth wing Convenor

13 Feb 2026

The Atal Setu bridge is more than an infrastructure project it is a structural shift in how Navi Mumbai and Panvel integrate with Mumbai's economic core. By significantly reducing travel time to South Mumbai and key business districts, it has enhanced daily convenience and reshaped buyer perception. Connectivity builds confidence, and confidence drives real estate.
We are already witnessing stronger end-user interest and investor traction in Panvel and emerging nodes of Navi Mumbai, as improved accessibility directly translates into long-term value creation. Infrastructure-led growth has historically defined Mumbai's expansion, and Atal Setu is accelerating that trajectory. For homebuyers, it means better work-life balance and future-ready locations. For investors, it signals sustained appreciation backed by tangible connectivity, not just speculation.

Mr. Bhadresh Shah, Managing Director, Today Group

13 Feb 2026

The RBI's choice to maintain the repo rate at 5.25% and adopt a neutral stance brings a sense of predictability to the real estate sector, which is more crucial than any minor rate cuts at this point. With over 100 basis points of cumulative rate reductions already in play and lending rates dropping by nearly 90-100 bps, mortgage affordability has mostly stabilized for mid-income and premium buyers, who are still driving demand. For developers like us, a stable rate environment makes it easier to manage funding costs and enhances cash-flow visibility, particularly for projects that are already underway. While credit from banks and NBFCs remains supportive, capital is becoming more selective, favoring those well-capitalized players. Affordable housing continues to face challenges, as rising costs and slower income growth lessen the benefits of stable EMIs. The neutral stance keeps future options open, allowing both buyers and developers to plan without the worry of policy uncertainty

Mr. Avneesh Sood, Director, Eros Group

06 Feb 2026

RBI's decision to hold rates signals a preference to watch inflation, liquidity, and transmission before moving further. Most of the easing done so far has already flowed into retail lending, which is why home loan rates remain relatively competitive despite the pause. Affordability continues to be supported by stable spreads, lender competition, and selective concessions. Borrowers can still optimise costs by keeping EMIs higher to shorten loan tenures and reduce interest outgo, while balance transfers remain relevant for incremental savings. On the savings side, a steady repo rate means fixed deposit rates are likely to stabilise, with fewer sharp hikes ahead. Higher FD rates are becoming more selective, and most mainstream offers are settling into a narrower band. Investors looking to lock in current yields may consider spreading deposits across tenures, while senior citizen rates continue to offer a small but meaningful edge.

Adhil Shetty, CEO, BankBazaar

06 Feb 2026

Loan norms continue to be supportive, with LTV ratios of up to 90% for loans below 30 lakh and 75% for loans bove 75 lakh, aiding first-time and mid-income buyers. RBI's pause at 5.25% keeps EMIs stable for homebuyers, especially on repo-linked loans. Beyond domestic buyers, NRI participation in Indian real estate remains strong, supported by stable rates, a predictable regulatory environment, and seamless transactions through NRE, NRO, and FCNR accounts. Investor sentiment is constructive, with NRIs increasingly attracted to India's residential and commercial assets for currency arbitrage, rental yields, and long-term appreciation. The move to banks to lend to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), aimed at broadening credit access for the real estate investment ecosystem and supporting long-term funding for income-generating commercial assets.

Ashish Narain Agarwal, Founder & MD of PropertyPistol

06 Feb 2026

RBI's decision to maintain the repo rate at 5.25% reinforces macro stability, crucial for long term real estate investors. After cumulative 125 bps easing in 2025, borrowing costs have normalized, keeping asset pricing rational and returns predictable. While the rate pause doesn't spark fresh affordability, the sector benefits from strong policy support and sustained end user demand. A major structural shift is the government's infrastructure led growth strategy: 12.2 lakh crore FY26 capex, 5,000 crore for Tier 2/3 cities and the Risk Guarantee Fund lower execution and credit risks, accelerating capital into emerging cities. Bank lending to REITs improves long tenure capital access, and the 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund signals a policy backed, data driven shift in real estate returns.

Vishal Raheja, Founder & MD, InvestoXpert Advisors

06 Feb 2026

RBI's decision to hold the repo rate at 5.25% provides much needed operational stability after cumulative 125 bps rate cuts in 2025, including the 25 bps reduction in December. With home loan rates now largely plateaued, financing costs are predictable, enabling developers to plan launches, land acquisitions, and construction with greater confidence. While EMIs remain unchanged, housing demand stays resilient, reflecting underlying strength rather than rate led speculation. The larger growth trigger is infrastructure spending. The government's 12.2 lakh crore capital expenditure, an 11.4% YoY increase, will create a strong multiplier across housing, construction, logistics, and jobs. Investments in roads, railways, ports, urban infrastructure, industrial corridors, Tier 2/3 cities, long term 143 lakh crore outlays and improved financing access, including bank lending to REITs, position the sector for execution led, sustainable growth and job creation.

Sunil Sisodiya, Founder & CEO, Neworld Developers

06 Feb 2026

The RBI's decision to hold the repo rate steady at 5.25% offers stability for interest-rate sensitive sectors like real estate in the current macroeconomic environment. With inflation remaining at manageable levels and the benefits of earlier rate cuts continuing to flow through to homebuyers in the form of improved affordability, residential demand has remained resilient. The Union government's decision to raise public capital expenditure to 12.2 lakh crore in FY27, as announced in the Union Budget 2026, further strengthens the growth outlook through infrastructure-led development.
Supported by stable monetary policy and sustained public spending, the real estate sector will continue to play a pivotal role in driving economic growth, employment generation, and urban development across the country.

Mr. Pradeep Aggarwal, Founder & Chairman, Signature Global (India) Ltd.

06 Feb 2026

The RBI's decision to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% reinforces policy stability and provides a supportive backdrop for the residential real estate market. While a rate cut would have lowered borrowing costs, a steady interest rate environment enables homebuyers to take long-term purchase decisions with greater confidence and predictability. This is particularly relevant for the premium housing segment, where buyers place stronger emphasis on product quality, location, and long-term value creation rather than short-term rate movements.

Mr. Ashok Kapur, Chairman, Krishna Group and Krisumi Corporation

06 Feb 2026