IndustryLatest Stories

Andhra Pradesh Real Estate Sector Shows Recovery Signs

VIJAYAWADA: After a five-year stagnation, the real estate sector in Andhra Pradesh appears to be experiencing new growth. There has been an uptick in land transactions throughout the state, reflecting a renewed interest from buyers in real estate investments. The increase in revenue from stamp duties and registrations further indicates a recovery in the market. The stamps and registrations department reported a 46% revenue growth in the first quarter of the current financial year compared to the same period in 2024. The year-to-date growth stands at 39%, signaling a positive shift for the sector. Following the launch of projects worth…

IndustryLatest Stories

Only 29% of Plots Sold in Andhra’s MIG Housing Scheme

Representative image created by AI VISAKHAPATNAM: Nearly three years after its launch, Andhra Pradesh’s ‘Smart Townships’ initiative, now known as ‘NTR Smart Townships’ under the new administration, has struggled to fulfill its commitment to providing affordable housing options for middle-income groups (MIG). Out of 36 projects initiated across various Assembly constituencies, a mere 29% of plots have been sold, generating only 23% of the anticipated revenue. Additionally, urban development authorities (UDAs) have approved 38 more projects across 37 constituencies, currently in diverse stages of development. The scheme’s underperformance can be attributed to several factors, including an income cap of ₹18…

CommercialLatest Stories

Andhra HC Denies Stay on TCS Land Allotment in Vizag

Representational image VIJAYAWADA: On Wednesday, the high court ruled against halting the land allocation to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Visakhapatnam. The court noted that many states offer land to companies at minimal costs to attract investments, questioning what issue arises if Andhra Pradesh adopts a similar approach. However, the high court indicated that the allotment is contingent upon the final decision regarding the petition. Nakka Nammi Grace, president of the Society for Protection of Civil Property and Environmental Rights in Visakhapatnam, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), arguing that the government’s allocation of land to TCS violates APIIC guidelines.…

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Andhra Pradesh extends LRS guidelines cut-off to June 30

VIJAYAWADA: The state government has instructed municipal commissioners and urban development authority vice-chairpersons to address all outstanding applications under the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS). In light of the cabinet’s recent endorsement of the proposal, the municipal administration department has disseminated comprehensive guidelines for the implementation of the LRS regulations. This initiative is expected to benefit plot owners in unauthorized layouts covering approximately 18,000 acres statewide. As per reports, the Director of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) provided the state government with data indicating that around 14,535 unauthorized layouts, spanning nearly 78,452 acres, were recorded in the UCIMS app by Urban…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Andhra Pradesh to Reintroduce BPS & LRS to Curb Illegal Builds

Representative image created by AI VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government plans to reintroduce the Building Penalisation Scheme (BPS) and Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) aimed at regulating illegal structures and layouts across the state. These schemes were in effect during the TDP administration from 2014 to 2019. In response to the rising number of constructions lacking necessary permissions, the government aims to relaunch these initiatives to also boost state revenues. The cabinet is anticipated to review the proposal in their upcoming meeting. The municipal administration and urban development department is preparing a strategy to address the issue of illegal structures and…

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Land registration freeze over ‘tampered’ records in AP

Representative image created by AI VIJAYAWADA: The state government appears to be at a standstill regarding the contentious issue of free-hold lands. Registration for approximately 20 lakh acres of assigned lands has been halted due to suspicions of record tampering. Despite conducting village-level revenue meetings to review land records, the government has failed to address the free-hold lands issue over the past year. Hundreds of thousands of farmers are struggling to sell their lands while the government delays in lifting the ban on registrations for lands marked in the prohibitory lands register. A Group of Ministers (GoM) has been appointed…

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Andhra Pradesh Introduces Self-Certification for Building Permits

VIJAYAWADA: In a significant initiative to streamline business operations and spur real estate development, the state government has announced updated guidelines for the Self-Certification Scheme (SCS) 2025 concerning building permits. The new framework is part of the state’s broader vision to simplify the building approval process while promoting a transparent and inclusive approach to urban development. It aims to empower both citizens and licensed technical personnel (LTPs) through a trust-based approval system, representing a shift towards responsible self-governance instead of stringent regulation. S Suresh Kumar, the principal secretary for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD), issued a government order on…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

AP HC Orders Release of Builder Detained by Consumer Body

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh High Court recently stated that the consumer redressal commission must adhere to procedural safeguards protecting a citizen’s liberty before incarcerating any defaulter. In a ruling that led to the immediate release of a realtor who had spent three years in jail, the court reaffirmed that human liberty is a fundamental right that must be protected diligently. It asserted that a violation of orders from the consumer redressal commission does not inherently warrant imprisonment. This case emerged from complaints against Vijaya Saradhi Housing Pvt Ltd, a real estate firm based in Guntur, which had taken advances for…

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Andhra CM Urges Amaravati Allottees to Finish Projects Promptly

AI-generated Representative Image AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu emphasized on Tuesday that all institutions assigned land in the greenfield capital city of Amaravati must adhere to the specified timelines for their construction projects, insisting that no extensions beyond the deadline will be tolerated. During a review of land allocations to various public and private entities within the Capital Region Development Authority limits, the chief minister made it clear that construction must commence without delay. “Those who have received land must initiate construction as promised. Projects should be completed within two-and-a-half to three years. There will be no…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

CRDA Approves 20,494 Acres for Amaravati Capital Region

AI-generated Representative Image AMARAVATI: At the 50th meeting of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday, the authority approved the pooling of an additional 20,494 acres from seven villages in the greenfield capital of Amaravati. According to an official press release, this land will come from four villages in Amaravati mandal and three in Thullur mandal. The press release stated, “CRDA Authority approved land pooling of an additional 20,494 acres from four villages in Amaravati mandal and three villages in Thullur mandal.” With a current land bank of 54,000 acres set aside…