IndustryLatest Stories

UP Cabinet to Announce Revised Bylaws for Vertical Development

LUCKNOW: The state government is set to announce revised building bylaws designed to facilitate swift urbanization and bolster economic activities, promoting vertical development. Sources indicate that the housing department has submitted its final proposal to the government, which is anticipated to be discussed in the upcoming cabinet meeting. The updated rules will enable property owners to optimize use of available land space. Officials report that over 1,000 objections and suggestions were reviewed, with some affecting the final draft. The state has amended the building construction and development bylaws since their establishment in 2008, aiming to align with stakeholder expectations. As…

CommercialLatest Stories

GCCs Hold 42% of India’s Office Leasing in FY25: Report

AI-generated image (representative) NEW DELHI: Global Capability Centres (GCCs) have solidified their role in India’s office leasing landscape for FY25, contributing to 42% of total office space absorption nationwide, a slight increase from 41% the previous year, as reported by Vestian, a real estate consultancy firm. During the fiscal year, GCCs leased 31.8 million sq ft of office space, marking a substantial 24% growth year-on-year. Despite a 4% drop in the number of GCC transactions to 305 deals, the average leased area per transaction has increased, indicating a shift towards larger office spaces and long-term expansion plans. The report notes…

Housing FinanceLatest Stories

LIC Housing Finance names Lokesh Mundhra as CFO

Representative image NEW DELHI: LIC Housing Finance has appointed Lokesh Mundhra as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective Thursday. According to a regulatory filing, Sudipto Sil, who previously served as CFO, will now be the Marketing Head of the Western Region in Mumbai beginning April 17, 2025. “The Board of Directors has approved the appointment of Lokesh Mundhra as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Key Managerial Personnel (KMP) of the company effective April 17, 2025,” LIC Housing Finance stated. Mundhra, a Chartered Accountant, brings 32 years of experience from various roles at LIC of India, covering departments such…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

ED Suspends HMDA Official; ₹250 Crore Assets and Realtor Links Under Investigation

HYDERABAD: On Wednesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Hyderabad carried out searches at several locations associated with suspended HMDA official Shiva Balakrishna. This action is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged disproportionate assets identified by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Shiva Balakrishna, previously a planning officer at Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) and in-charge Secretary of the Telangana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), was arrested by the ACB on January 25 for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income sources. The ACB also took his brother, Naveen Kumar, into custody in connection with the case. The ED has initiated an…

IndustryLatest Stories

Domestic Investment in Indian Real Estate Soars 53% to $1.4B

Here’s a rewritten version of your content: — New Delhi: In the first half of 2025, India’s real estate sector drew in USD 3 billion in institutional investments, of which nearly half (48%) came from domestic investors, according to recent data from Colliers. Although total inflows saw a 15% year-on-year decline, domestic capital surged by 53% to USD 1.4 billion, acting as a vital cushion against decreasing foreign investments. Domestic investments, which traditionally took a back seat, have risen significantly from just 16% of total investments in 2021 to nearly half in H1 2025. Conversely, foreign investments fell 39% year-on-year…

Latest StoriesResidential

Gujarat CM Sets ₹200 Annual House Tax for PMAY-Gramin Beneficiaries

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has announced an important measure to benefit recipients of government-backed housing in rural areas of the state. The initiative introduces a uniform annual house tax of Rs 200 for beneficiaries under various government housing schemes, including the Central Government’s flagship program, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural). An annual tax rate of Rs 200 has been established for four years, starting with the current assessment cycle, applicable to houses built with government aid within all Gram Panchayats statewide, as per the official announcement. No Gram Panchayat will have the authority to impose a rate higher…

CommercialLatest Stories

India’s Office Space Demand Reaches 48.9M Sq Ft in H1 2025

NEW DELHI: The demand for commercial office space in India hit an all-time high in the first half of 2025, with gross leasing volumes reaching 48.9 million sq ft, reflecting a substantial 41% increase compared to the previous year, according to the latest report by Knight Frank. This remarkable growth was fueled by robust leasing activities in Bengaluru, NCR, and Pune, driven predominantly by Global Capability Centres (GCCs), which accounted for 39% of the total leasing activity. Other significant players included third-party IT services (22%), flexible space operators (21%), and businesses focused on the Indian market (18%). GCCs and IT…

Housing FinanceLatest Stories

Bajaj Housing Finance Q4 FY25 Profit Soars 54% to Rs 5.87B

Representative image Bajaj Housing Finance of India announced a significant profit increase in its fourth-quarter results on Wednesday, buoyed by strong credit growth fueled by heightened demand for premium homes and soaring property prices in the nation. The country’s largest home loan provider by market capitalization realized a 54% increase in profit, amounting to 5.87 billion rupees ($68.8 million) for the quarter ending March 31. The demand for homes in India, especially in the premium segment that constitutes a substantial portion of Bajaj Housing Finance’s portfolio, has consistently remained strong over recent quarters. Residential real estate prices are projected to…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Probe Launched into TDR Scam on Deolali Reserved Land

NASHIK: On Thursday, Ram Shinde, chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, ordered the civic and district administration to investigate a purported Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) scam concerning land acquisition for public amenities in Deolali, Nashik. He requested a report be submitted within 15 days. The directive followed a meeting with relevant officials after a complaint surfaced that the Nashik Municipal Corporation granted TDR certificates to a landowner at rates surpassing the government’s market value in return for land at Survey No. 295 in Deolali, which is earmarked for a garden, school, and an 18m DP Road. This meeting occurred…

IndustryLatest Stories

NCR Sees 7.2M Sq Ft Office Leasing in H1 2025

NEW DELHI: The National Capital Region (NCR) has outshined other Indian cities in both commercial and residential real estate during the first half of 2025, achieving a record 7.2 million sq ft of office space leased and a significant increase in ultra-luxury home sales, as reported by Knight Frank India. Office Market: Record Leasing Momentum in NCR NCR’s office leasing rose by 27% year-on-year, reaching an unprecedented high and signaling the region’s growing status as a commercial hub. Gurugram, recognized as NCR’s corporate focal point, represented a remarkable 65% of total office leasing, a notable increase of 900 basis points…