Ahmedabad News Desk

10 Apr 2026

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has intensified enforcement of its Good Construction Practice Policy by sealing three construction sites in the Gota area in the past week for failing to implement mandatory dust mitigation measures. The projects Evera, S Plus and Solo Bliss 2 were found non-compliant with requirements such as green netting and barricading to control particulate emissions. One of the sites was additionally fined INR 1 lakh for spilling construction material onto a public road, creating a traffic hazard. The crackdown extended to other parts of the city, with additional penalties imposed in Bodakdev and Thaltej for pollution and safety violations. The drive also included removal of encroachments along a key service road to ease traffic movement.Read more

Ghaziabad News Desk

10 Apr 2026

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has increased development charges, building permit fees, and mandatory inspection costs for the current financial year, with revised rates coming into effect from the start of the month. The revision, implemented under state government directives, involves an average increase of around 4% across multiple approval stages. The changes also include higher infrastructure-linked levies such as metro and elevated road cesses. The move is expected to raise input costs for developers, which industry stakeholders indicate may be passed on to homebuyers, affecting overall housing affordability in Ghaziabad and adjoining National Capital Region markets.Read more

10 Apr 2026

Malkapur Municipal Council in Satara district has become the first C-class urban local body in Maharashtra to issue Transferable Development Rights (TDR) certificates for acquiring private land for public infrastructure. The certificates were distributed to six landowners in the past week for approximately 19,000 sq ft of land earmarked for a Development Plan (DP) road project aimed at easing traffic congestion. The move introduces a mechanism typically used in larger cities, allowing the council to secure land without direct monetary compensation. Landowners can monetise these certificates by selling them to developers, who can use them to increase permissible built-up area. The initiative comes amid rising land values and growing infrastructure requirements in the town, which lies along a key highway corridor.Read more

10 Apr 2026

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced a city-wide survey to identify residential buildings being used for commercial purposes without approval, in compliance with a recent Supreme Court directive. The exercise will cover colonies, apartment complexes and housing societies across the city, with ward-level teams tasked with mapping violations such as offices, shops, clinics and guesthouses operating in residential zones. The court, while hearing a case related to an illegal commercial structure in Chennai, directed municipal bodies in state capitals to conduct detailed inspections and submit reports. The move addresses long-standing concerns over land-use violations that have led to congestion, infrastructure strain and disruption in residential neighbourhoods.Read more

10 Apr 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated the strategic importance of India's maritime sector in supporting economic growth, trade and logistics connectivity, marking National Maritime Day in the past week. In a public message, he acknowledged the contribution of stakeholders across shipping and port ecosystems, noting their role in strengthening the country's economic framework. The statement also reaffirmed the government's commitment to further developing maritime infrastructure and leveraging the sector's potential for future growth. The remarks come amid ongoing policy emphasis on port modernisation, coastal infrastructure, and expansion of shipping capacity as part of India's broader infrastructure and logistics strategy.Read more

09 Apr 2026

The Himachal Pradesh government has revised and reduced recently proposed vehicle entry tax rates for out-of-state vehicles after protests along its borders with Punjab and Haryana. The decision, notified in the past week, introduces a uniform INR 100 levy for passenger vehicles with up to 12+1 seating capacity, while fixing rates for commercial vehicles at INR 320 for light categories and INR 570 for larger trucks. The rollback follows sustained agitation by transporters and political representatives who had opposed earlier steep increases. The move aims to ease commuter burden and restore cross-border movement while retaining a revised taxation framework intended to support state revenues and infrastructure funding under the Himachal Pradesh Tolls Act, 1975.Read more

09 Apr 2026

The Vijayapura airport project in Karnataka is nearing operational readiness, with authorities awaiting a Supreme Court verdict on environmental clearance issues that have delayed its launch. The airport, developed by the state government, has completed construction and applied for operational approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The delay stems from a broader legal challenge concerning projects initiated without prior environmental clearance, which led to restrictions affecting several infrastructure developments. The state has invested additional funds to upgrade facilities, including approach roads and safety systems, and has initiated discussions with airlines for connectivity. Once clearance is granted, the airport is expected to begin operations, improving regional connectivity across north Karnataka and supporting economic activity in the surrounding districts.Read more

Bangalore News Desk

09 Apr 2026

The Karnataka government has proposed amendments to the 2003 building bye-laws in Bengaluru, allowing deviations of up to 15% from approved plans, compared to the earlier 5% limit. The draft framework, open for public feedback until the end of April, introduces a compounding fee mechanism to regularise such deviations and enable issuance of occupancy certificates. The move is intended to address a large number of buildings unable to secure approvals due to minor violations. However, urban planners and civic experts have raised concerns regarding enforcement, safety, and legal compliance, warning that the proposal may legitimise unauthorised construction practices while altering long-standing planning norms.Read more

09 Apr 2026

The Andhra Pradesh government has launched a large-scale energy efficiency initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), covering five lakh households in its first phase. Implemented through a tripartite agreement between Andhra Pradesh State Housing Corporation Limited (APSHCL), Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), and AP SEEDCO, the programme will replace conventional electrical fixtures with energy-efficient appliances in affordable housing units. The initiative, formalised in the past week, aims to reduce electricity consumption, lower household expenses, and cut carbon emissions. It also aligns with the state's broader objective of delivering sustainable housing to all eligible beneficiaries by 2029 while improving energy performance across mass housing stock.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

09 Apr 2026

The Bombay High Court has upheld an order directing the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority to pay INR 1 lakh compensation to a Jogeshwari resident whose structure was demolished without prior notice. The ruling affirms a decision by the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, which found that the demolition violated procedural safeguards despite the structure being unauthorised. The court reiterated that the right to shelter forms part of Article 21 of the Constitution and cannot be taken away without due process. The case pertains to a tenement in Oshiwara, Mumbai, removed during a redevelopment-linked clearance exercise. The judgment reinforces the requirement for civic authorities and housing agencies to follow statutory notice procedures before undertaking demolition actions.Read more