InfrastructureLatest Stories

How Ghaziabad Plans to Tackle Illegal Colonies Without Power

GHAZIABAD: To tackle the rapid proliferation of unauthorized colonies, the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) vice chairperson, Atul Vats, has reached out to the stamp and registry department to halt the registration of plots in these illegal areas. Instructions have also been issued to the power department and civic corporation to refrain from granting electricity, water, or sewerage connections until the GDA provides a completion certificate. A recent survey by the GDA discovered 351 illegal colonies covering 2,944 acres in the city, an increase from 321 in 2021. Officials attribute this rise to ongoing property registrations despite the illegal status of…

IndustryLatest Stories

Noida Authority to Demolish 60 Buildings, Flats Up to ₹65L

NOIDA: On Wednesday, the Noida Authority launched a demolition operation against illegal constructions in Salarpur Khadar village, where 39 developers are accused of erecting about 60 buildings across 24 plots. Many of these constructions are six to seven stories tall and marketed as 1BHK to 3BHK flats priced between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 65 lakh. A team of 50 officials, equipped with six earthmovers and tractor-trolleys, initiated the demolition process. Police were also deployed on-site for security. While officials began dismantling structures on certain identified plots, they faced delays when farmers presented court-issued stay orders. However, demolitions proceeded on…

Latest StoriesResidential

Civic Body Demolishes 32 Flats in Gurugram Without Approval

Certainly! Here’s a rewritten version of the content: GURUGRAM: In a significant action against unauthorized constructions, the enforcement team of the corporation demolished and sealed 32 under-construction flats on Tuesday. According to officials, the illegally constructed flats were situated in Anamika Enclave, Sector 14, lacking mandatory map approval from the MCG and a fire safety NOC. “The building was missing a fire escape door, which is essential in case of a fire emergency,” stated MCG assistant engineer RK Mongia. He emphasized that any illegal construction in the city will not be tolerated, and similar strict measures will be enforced going…

IndustryLatest Stories

Lucknow body sells ₹300 crore property in e-auction

LUCKNOW: The LDA recently conducted an e-auction, successfully selling property valued at over Rs 300 crore. Two school plots of 3,500 sqm each in Sector-N of the Basantkunj scheme were sold for Rs 14 crore each, aimed at establishing private schools to serve the Basantkunj area and nearby housing colonies under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Additionally, a commercial plot in the Central Business District that was originally valued at Rs 51 crore fetched an impressive Rs 76 crore. A 288 sqm plot in Sector-4 of Gomtinagar Extension, listed at Rs 95 lakh, sold for Rs 2.76 crore. Furthermore, a…

Latest StoriesResidential

Bengaluru: No OC Required for Homes Under 1,200 Sq Ft

BENGALURU: Constructing a home on a 30×40 site within Greater Bengaluru Authority limits has become more straightforward. In a significant development for many residents, the state government announced on Tuesday that individual houses on plots of 1,200 sqft—featuring ground-plus-two floors or stilt-plus-three floors—will no longer require an occupancy certificate (OC), reports Niranjan Kaggere. The new directive authorizes the government to exempt specific types of buildings from the mandatory OC requirement. This decision follows increasing concerns from homeowners after a recent court ruling mandated OCs even for smaller residential properties. Officials noted that this exemption aims to simplify compliance and prevent…

CommercialLatest Stories

Commercial Use of Properties on 42 Roads Allowed in Prayagraj

PRAYAGRAJ: In a significant policy change, property owners along 42 major roads in Prayagraj can now utilize their buildings for commercial activities. This includes well-known streets such as Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Sardar Patel Marg, Katju Marg, and Tashkent Marg, as outlined in the city’s Master Plan 2031. Previously, commercial activities along these roads were restricted. Under the former Master Plan 2021, only 29 roads were designated as market streets. The updated plan expands this list, adding several key roads, including Tashkent Marg and Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg. Officials anticipate that this decision will foster commercial development and create new job…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

ED Seizes Luxury Cars in Goa ‘Illegal’ Land Grab Case

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has confiscated seven luxury vehicles including brands such as Porsche, Mercedes, and Audi, following raids in a money laundering investigation tied to an alleged ₹1,200 crore land grabbing case in Goa. This case involves an individual named Yeshwant Sawant and several others. The operation began on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday. According to the ED, 13 residential and commercial properties in Goa and Hyderabad were examined under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) due to the “illegal” seizure of Communidade lands in Goa, as stated in the agency’s announcement. The ED’s case is…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

CAG Highlights Underuse of Welfare Fund for Construction Workers

Representative Image AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government has collected over Rs 4,700 crore as a welfare cess from developers over the past 16 years, until 2023. However, only Rs 808 crore, or 17%, has been utilized for worker welfare through a legally mandated board. This issue was highlighted in the audit report from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), which was presented in the legislative assembly on the last day of the monsoon session. The ‘performance audit on the welfare of building and other construction workers for the period 2017-22’ indicated that the absence of a Welfare Fund resulted…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Jharkhand HC Halts Sand Ghat Auction Over PESA Issues

RANCHI: The Jharkhand High Court has imposed a stay on the auction of sand ghats in the state due to the non-implementation of the Panchayat Extension of Scheduled Area (PESA) Rules. Additionally, the court has halted the issuance of mining leases for minor minerals. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajesh Shankar heard a contempt petition filed by the Adiwasi Buddhijeevi Manch, addressing the government’s failure to comply with a prior high court directive mandating the implementation of PESA Rules before proceeding with the auction of sand ghats and issuing mining certificates for other minor…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Ahmedabad Utilizes 92% of Rs 2,561 Crore in TDR Rights

Representative AI image AHMEDABAD: The city has effectively utilized transferable development rights (TDR) for initiatives ranging from slum redevelopment to heritage restoration, positioning itself as one of India’s most vibrant TDR markets. By 2025, Ahmedabad is set to absorb 95% of its total TDR — Rs 2,561 crore out of Rs 2,778 crore. TDR allows the transfer and sale of unused development potential from one property to another. This information was shared during a conference on ‘Global Best Practices in City Densification through Innovative Planning Tools and Techniques’ by Cept University professor and member of the Gujarat Housing and Labour…