InfrastructureLatest Stories

Goa plans to label 28.4 lakh sq meters as ‘non-developable’

Representative AI image PANAJI: In a notable shift from recent practices, the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department has proposed classifying large contiguous land parcels as non-developable under Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act, while still keeping the land within settlement zones according to the Regional Plan 2021. This notification, approved by TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane during a meeting on April 21, addresses three significant land parcels totaling over 2.84 million square meters in Bardez and Pernem, inviting public objections. The largest parcel, located in Ozorim (Pernem), encompasses 1.52 million square meters, featuring orchards, natural areas, paddy…

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Uttar Pradesh to Upgrade 100 Small Towns in Phase II Plan

LUCKNOW: The state government is set to initiate the second phase of the aspirational towns program, aimed at upgrading 100 urban local bodies in a phased approach. Launched in September 2023, the scheme focuses on enhancing essential services and amenities in smaller towns, with 100 of the most underdeveloped local bodies selected for funding. As the first phase concluded on March 31 after achieving its goals, the state has identified 100 additional towns, each with a population between 20,000 and 100,000. Senior officials from the urban development department announced a budget of ₹175 crores to improve civic amenities in these…

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Karnataka OKs ₹18,000 Crore Township for Greater Bengaluru

BENGALURU: On Thursday, the Karnataka government approved the Rs 18,000-crore Greater Bengaluru integrated suburban township project, designed as a ‘work-live-play’ initiative. The sprawling 7,481-acre township will encompass the entire Bengaluru South district, including areas like Bidadi and Ramanagara. Approximately 6,650 acres of land will need to be acquired from private owners. The project will see the state government provide a guarantee for Rs 7,500 crore to be sourced from the housing finance institution Hudco. The remaining funds will come from the Bangalore Development Authority and the monetization of CA sites in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region by leveraging sites with banks.…

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Allahabad HC Supports Noida Airport Expansion, Emphasizes Rehab

PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court has upheld the land acquisition for the expansion of Noida International Airport in the Gautam Buddh Nagar district, rejecting petitions from affected landowners. The court found that the acquisition process adhered fully to the 2013 land acquisition law, indicating no material irregularities. A division bench consisting of Justice M C Tripathi and Justice Kunal Ravi Singh, while addressing a collection of writ petitions, stated: “Based on the preceding discussion and the reasons provided, this Court finds no merit in the challenges raised by the petitioners regarding the notifications dated April 11, 2025, and October 24,…

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Haryana: DTCP Initiates Statewide Audit of Infrastructure, Funds

GURUGRAM: The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has launched a statewide initiative to collect data on infrastructure capacity, encroachments, and funds utilization, following an interim order from the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding the stilt-plus-four (S+4) policy. In a memo issued on Wednesday, the department instructed key urban agencies—including metropolitan development authorities, municipal corporations, HSVP, HSIIDC, and other local bodies—to provide detailed reports by 10:30 AM on May 1, in anticipation of the next hearing on May 4. Urban planners believe this effort could significantly impact residential densification policies statewide. “The court is assessing whether infrastructure can…

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Telangana Gov’t Finalizes Deal for Full LTMRHL Acquisition

HYDERABAD: The Telangana government has decided to take control of the Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase I through HMRL. On Wednesday, they signed a Share Purchase Agreement with L&T to acquire 100% equity shares of LTMRHL for an equity value of ₹1,461.47 crores. The Share Purchase Agreement was signed by Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL) Managing Director Sarfaraz Ahmad, D K Sen representing L&T Ltd, and KVB Reddy representing L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited (LTMRHL). Attending the signing were Telangana Chief Secretary and HMRL Chairman K Ramakrishna Rao, along with Special Chief Secretary (Municipal Administration) Jayesh Ranjan, according to a release…

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Delhi Submits Draft Climate Action Plan for Approval

NEW DELHI: The environment department has drafted the Delhi State Action Plan on Climate Change (SPACC) 2.0, which is currently under review by the Union ministry of environment, forests, and climate change. The previous version was implemented in 2019 and relied on data available until 2011. Officials indicated that the new plan integrates updated climate science, recent datasets, and vulnerability assessments at the district level. It outlines targeted sector-specific actions for both mitigation and adaptation through 2030, particularly in light of the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in the city. “The first SAPCC established a foundational climate strategy for…

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Haryana to Mandate EV Charging Points in Societies, Malls, Offices

Representative Image GURUGRAM: The Haryana government has proposed changes to the Haryana Building Code, 2017, mandating EV charging infrastructure in both residential and non-residential projects to enhance EV adoption in the state. The Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has announced a public notice requesting feedback from stakeholders within 30 days, with a deadline set for May 26. The draft amendments state that EV charging infrastructure will be excluded from Floor Area Ratio (FAR) calculations, a move anticipated to motivate developers to incorporate these facilities without affecting the built area. The proposal outlines clear guidelines for installing electric charging…

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Bihar to Build 11 Satellite Townships via Land-Pooling Model

PATNA: A senior official announced on Monday that the development of 11 proposed satellite townships in Bihar will proceed through land-pooling under the Town Planning Scheme (TPS). On Wednesday, the state government approved the establishment of these greenfield townships and enacted a moratorium on land sales, transfers, developments, and construction activities in the identified regions. Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD) principal secretary Vinay Kumar stated to reporters, “We aim to include everyone in the development process. The townships will be developed using land-pooling under the TPS, whereby 55% of the developed land will be returned to the farmers.” The…

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New Demolitions Planned in Gurugram’s HSVP Sectors

File Photo GURUGRAM: The Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) is set to launch a comprehensive anti-encroachment campaign starting Monday, aimed at clearing the right-of-way across 44 sectors for public infrastructure including roads and utilities. This initiative will roll out in phases throughout May and June. This initiative follows a five-day demolition operation led by the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), targeting all unauthorized encroachments such as kitchen gardens, extended ramps, flower pots in public areas, temporary kiosks, pushcarts, and other blockages. HSVP officials urge residents to voluntarily dismantle these structures before the scheduled dates. A detailed timetable has…