InfrastructureLatest Stories

Pimpri Chinchwad’s month-long drive knocks down 187 illegal buildings

Representative image PUNE: Since July 9, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has demolished 187 unauthorized structures, totaling 3.35 lakh sq ft, as part of its ongoing anti-encroachment initiative across the city. This includes 98 RCC buildings, 69 tin sheds, and 20 kiosks, according to a senior official from the anti-encroachment department. The civic body’s special operation has primarily targeted under-construction sites to prevent illegal structures from emerging. A senior PCMC official stated, “Initially, we focused on under-construction sites to stop illegal buildings from being built. However, the drive has since been broadened to include unauthorized kiosks on footpaths and…

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Hinjewadi Road Clean-Up Boosts Call for Tighter Transport Rules

PUNE: Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) officials are set to address the accumulation of mud and debris on roads due to vehicles traveling to and from construction sites in the Megapolis Township area, in response to multiple complaints from Hinjewadi residents. MIDC has directed construction site managers to ensure that vehicles transporting mud or materials are adequately covered and that the wheels are cleaned before leaving the site. MIDC chief engineer Nitin Wankhede informed TOI that while these regulations exist, they are frequently overlooked, leading to ongoing issues. “If everyone abides by the rules, we wouldn’t have a problem,” he…

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Pune civic body mandates project names in Marathi for developers

Representative image created by AI PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has mandated that developers display the names of residential and commercial projects in Marathi. “The central government has granted Marathi the status of a classical language. It’s essential for all projects under PMC’s jurisdiction to prominently feature their names in Marathi,” stated PMC commissioner Naval Kishore Ram in a circular released on Friday. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) advocated for this rule. MNS member Prashant Kanojia remarked, “Many developers have neglected the requirement to display names in Marathi. This new directive from the civic administration will enforce compliance.” Kanojia…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

50% Tax Waiver for PCMC Red Zone Properties Starting FY27

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) decided on Tuesday to grant a 50% discount on the general tax for properties located in the red zone, starting from the next financial year. This move has sparked protests from numerous housing societies. The proposal for the tax waiver was approved in the PCMC’s standing committee and general body meetings. A senior official from the property tax department stated that the decision, effective April 1, 2026, pertains only to property owners who settle all outstanding dues. Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh explained to TOI that the civic body currently struggles to…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

SC Supports SEIAA and SEAC’s Authority on Environmental Clearances

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court (SC) has confirmed that the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) will remain the primary authorities responsible for granting environmental clearances at the project level. This ruling addresses a long-standing regulatory standstill affecting over 493 real estate projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune, which could impact more than 70,000 housing units, especially in the affordable and mid-income categories. The court’s decision is expected to clarify the environment clearance process, potentially revitalizing housing development in the area. The SC also invalidated sections of the notifications from…

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K Raheja Corp Acquires 7.4 Acres in Pune for ₹200 Crore

Representative image created by AI Realty developer K Raheja Corp’s subsidiary, KRC Queens, has purchased a significant 7.43-acre land parcel in Pune’s Mahalunge locality from Mahalunge Real Estate Developers for approximately ₹200 crore. The acquisition holds the potential for 1.7 million sq ft of built-up area, marking it as one of the largest land purchases in Pune’s western corridor in recent months. The Mumbai-based company has also paid a stamp duty of ₹13.67 crore for the registration of the deal, which was finalized on July 21, as per documents sourced through CRE Matrix, a real estate data analytics platform. Located…

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Maharashtra CM Advocates Housing Near Metro Terminals

NAGPUR: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while reviewing 30 key infrastructure projects across the state on Monday, advocated for housing initiatives near Metro corridor terminals to optimize land use and improve last-mile connectivity in urban planning. “Housing colonies should be developed next to Metro endpoints to truly leverage our transport infrastructure,” Fadnavis stated during a meeting at the state secretariat. “We have both the technology and resources. These projects should be completed within three years,” he emphasized. The meeting, part of an ongoing series in the Chief Minister’s War Room, involved top bureaucrats and district-level officials via videoconference. This was the…

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Maharashtra: Experts Warn on Darekar Panel’s Self-Redevelopment Report

PUNE: Housing activists have voiced serious concerns regarding the recommendations from the Pravin Darekar committee on self-redevelopment, stating that the new proposals undermine key benefits established in the state government’s 2019 government resolution (GR) and create new challenges for middle-class homeowners. Housing expert Chandrashekhar Prabhu noted that the committee’s report could strip vital incentives for housing societies, complicating the process for residents. “The 2019 GR offered a 10% increase in FSI as a significant incentive, while the Darekar committee has only recommended a 10% increase in carpet area—offering no real advantage to housing societies,” he explained. According to activists, one…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

FIRs Launched to Combat Illegal Sand Mining in Maharashtra

PUNE: The state government has instructed district collectors and police commissioners to register FIRs and take strict criminal action against individuals engaged in unauthorized excavation, transport, and use of sand or other minor minerals. On July 17, the revenue and forest departments issued a circular that empowers officials to prosecute offenders under various laws, including the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code of 1966, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) of 2023, the Environment Protection Act of 1986, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The circular also states that any…