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Pune, 1st October 2026: Aadhaar-based identity verification will be mandatory for registering property-related documents in Maharashtra from October 1, under a new requirement introduced by the state Revenue Department. The new system will apply to 63 categories of document registrations, including sale, purchase, mortgage and partition deeds. Officials said documents will not be registered unless the parties involved complete the prescribed Aadhaar-based identification process. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced the decision on Wednesday, saying the measure was introduced following directions from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to strengthen safeguards against fraud in property transactions. A gazette notification formalising the requirement has already been issued. The Registration and Stamps Department, which comes under the Revenue Department, oversees the registration of documents related to immovable property across the state. According to the government, Aadhaar-based verification is intended to reduce the scope for impersonation, fake identities and fictitious witnesses during property transactions. The system is also expected to reduce manual intervention and make the registration process more transparent. The new arrangement is expected to make physical witnesses less important during the identity verification process, as the identities of the parties can be authenticated through the prescribed digital verification mechanism. Alternative process for those without Aadhaar The government has also specified an alternative procedure for individuals who have not yet been issued an Aadhaar number. Such applicants will have to produce the acknowledgement receipt for their Aadhaar enrolment application along with another government-issued identity document. They will also be required to submit valid documents establishing their relationship with the other parties involved in the transaction. The revised process will apply across Maharashtra from October 1.

Pune, 28th September 2026: The Pune Economic Region aims to grow its economy from $68 billion in the financial year 2025-26 to $200–220 billion by 2035-36, with a proposed investment of ₹9–10 lakh crore and the creation of 15–20 lakh additional jobs. The targets are part of an integrated development roadmap prepared under NITI Aayog’s Growth Hub initiative. The plan includes 58 priority projects focused on industrial growth, public transport, affordable housing, tourism, agriculture, water security and environmental protection. The Pune Growth Hub plan was presented to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a meeting held at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai on Monday. Minister of State for Urban Development Madhuri Misal, Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, Maharashtra Finance Commission Chairman Nitin Kareer and senior officials from various departments attended the meeting. The presentation was made by Shirish Sankhye, Managing Director of ISEG, and Raunak Shah of McKinsey. The Pune Economic Region plan covers areas under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). The process began on August 1, 2025, with the participation of NITI Aayog, the Maharashtra government and Pune International Centre. According to the roadmap, the region’s current real economic growth rate of 6–6.5% is targeted to increase to 10%. Pune currently contributes approximately 11–12% of Maharashtra’s state income. The plan is also intended to support Maharashtra’s broader goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2047. 250-km Metro network and 12,000–14,000 buses proposed Expanding public transport is a key component of the plan, which aims to increase the share of public transport in daily travel from the current 13% to 50%. The proposed infrastructure includes: A Metro network spanning 250 km. 11 railway projects. 13 road projects. A fleet of 12,000–14,000 buses. Six multimodal transport hubs. The roadmap aims to ensure that at least half of all daily journeys in the Pune Economic Region are made using public transport. The objective is to provide commuters with more travel options and reduce dependence on private vehicles. 15–20 lakh additional jobs targeted The Pune Economic Region currently has approximately 56 lakh jobs. The roadmap targets a total of 74–76 lakh jobs over the next decade, with an estimated 15–20 lakh additional employment opportunities. These jobs are expected to come from manufacturing, services, healthcare, education, tourism, agro-processing and transport. The plan identifies six priority areas for industrial development: automotive and electric vehicles, engineering goods, defence manufacturing, robotics and drones, electronics and semiconductors, and biotechnology. Proposed projects include an electric vehicle and future mobility hub, a high-tech engineering park, electronics and defence technology manufacturing facilities, robotics centres, IT facilities, global capability centres and artificial intelligence hubs. These sectors are expected to have the potential to generate four to five lakh additional jobs. The roadmap also proposes increasing the number of startups in the region to more than 10,000 and providing reskilling opportunities in AI, cloud computing and cybersecurity to 1.5–2 lakh technology professionals. Four to five lakh affordable homes planned The plan aims to address housing requirements arising from the region’s expanding workforce and urban population. It proposes developing four to five lakh affordable homes for different income groups, industrial workers, students and technology professionals. This includes one lakh workers’ hostel units. Cluster-based redevelopment of densely populated areas and rehabilitation of eligible slum-dwelling families are also proposed. The target is to rehabilitate 90% of eligible families living in slums by 2036. Pune aims to become a major tourism destination The roadmap seeks to position the Pune Economic Region among India’s top 10 tourism destinations by developing six tourism segments: forts and lakes, sports and adventure, medical and wedding tourism, events, wildlife, and religious and cultural tourism. Key proposals include a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj forts circuit connecting Shivneri, Lohagad, Rajgad and Sinhagad; water tourism facilities at Pawana and Bhatghar; a 600-km Sahyadri open trekking trail; a medical tourism corridor; an events and entertainment centre at the Pune International Exhibition and Convention Centre (PIECC); and a leopard safari in Junnar. The proposed initiatives are intended to expand tourism-related economic activity and create employment opportunities. Agriculture and food processing targeted for growth The plan identifies horticulture, dairy farming and food processing as key drivers of the rural economy. Priority crops include grapes, bananas, pomegranates, figs and strawberries. The roadmap proposes developing food-processing units, cold-storage facilities, cold-chain infrastructure and biofuel projects at identified locations. The gross value added by the agriculture and food-processing sectors is targeted to rise from $5 billion to $10–12 billion. Additional 200 MLD water requirement identified The Pune Economic Region is estimated to require an additional 200 million litres of water per day. The roadmap proposes multiple measures to address future demand, including allocation of seven TMC of water from the Mulshi reservoir, additional supply from the Bhama basin, greater reuse of treated wastewater, improved distribution efficiency and desilting of water-storage facilities. The proposals are intended to improve water security as the region’s population and industrial activity expand. Skill development for women and young people The plan proposes expanding skill-development programmes, industrial training institute courses and university curricula to prepare young people for emerging employment opportunities. Training in electric vehicles, electronics, robotics and biotechnology is among the areas identified for greater focus. Increasing women’s participation in the workforce is another stated objective. Policy reforms and implementation structure proposed The roadmap recommends policy changes relating to semiconductors, industrial worker housing, rural-urban transition, MSMEs, integrated townships, tourism, cluster redevelopment, autonomous industrial townships, private industrial parks, startups, slum redevelopment and bus operations. For implementation, it proposes a multi-level governance structure comprising a regulatory council chaired by the Chief Minister, a state steering committee headed by the Chief Secretary, a Pune Growth Hub steering committee and a project management unit under PMRDA. The proposed roadmap sets out a long-term development vision for the Pune Economic Region. Its targets will depend on the implementation of the identified projects, funding arrangements, inter-agency coordination and the delivery timelines adopted by the government.

Malabar Hills, 28th September 2026: Bollywood actor Akshaye Khanna has purchased a luxury apartment in Mumbai’s Malabar Hill, one of the city’s most expensive and prestigious residential neighbourhoods. According to property registration documents accessed by Square Yards, the apartment was purchased for approximately ₹33.26 crore. The apartment has a carpet area of 2,391.82 square feet, or around 222 square metres. Its total area is 2,517.84 square feet, approximately 233.84 square metres. The property also includes three car parking spaces. Khanna paid around ₹1.99 crore in stamp duty for the transaction, along with a registration fee of ₹30,000. The deal was registered in 2026, although the actor has not publicly commented on the purchase. Malabar Hill is regarded as one of Mumbai’s most sought-after residential locations. The area is known for its premium apartment towers, luxurious homes, sea views and proximity to key parts of South Mumbai, including Marine Drive, Nariman Point and major business districts. The neighbourhood is also close to several prominent schools, hospitals, restaurants, clubs and shopping destinations. Its location, infrastructure and exclusivity have made it a preferred address among industrialists, business leaders and Bollywood personalities. Akshaye Khanna is known for his work in films across different genres. He has recently been in the news for his roles in movies such as Chhaava and Dhurandhar. His latest property purchase has now added another reason for the actor to make headlines.

  Pune, September 23, 2026: Pune’s residential real estate market is witnessing positive sentiment among homebuyers during the ongoing festive season, with buyers showing greater awareness and a more discerning approach towards property purchases, said Manish Jain, President, CREDAI Pune Metro. According to Jain, Pune’s residential market has entered a more mature phase, with demand increasingly being driven by genuine end-users. Homebuyers are showing a clear preference for well-located projects offering quality amenities, connectivity and long-term value. “The sentiment among homebuyers in Pune during the ongoing festive season is positive, although buyers today are more discerning and informed. Pune’s residential market has moved into a more mature phase, with demand increasingly driven by genuine end-users and a clear preference for better-located, amenity-rich homes. Research data also indicates a shift towards higher-value housing, with the ₹80 lakh to ₹1.5 crore segment accounting for the largest share of recent launches,” said Jain. The festive period has also brought healthy enquiries and site visits. During Ganeshotsav, developers witnessed interest particularly from buyers who had already been evaluating properties and were now looking to make purchase decisions by taking advantage of festive-period offers. “With Navratra and Dasara ahead, we expect this momentum to strengthen. Festive buying is no longer driven only by auspicious dates; it is increasingly about the confidence to make a well-considered long-term investment. With Pune’s fundamentals remaining strong, we expect the Navratra-Dasara period to be an important catalyst for home-buying decisions,” Jain added. The trend indicates that festive-season demand in Pune is increasingly being shaped by informed purchase decisions rather than short-term sentiment. Buyers are evaluating factors such as location, connectivity, amenities, project quality and long-term value while making their investment decisions

  Mumbai, 22nd September 2026: Mumbai’s luxury real estate market just witnessed one of its most extraordinary deals yet. Dinesh Thakkar, founder, chairman and managing director of Angel One, has agreed to acquire an entire G+7 residential tower at Embassy Developments’ Embassy Terrazza in Juhu for approximately ₹711 crore. The tower spans 63,000 sq ft of RERA carpet area, translating to more than ₹1.1 lakh per sq ft, a new record for residential properties in Juhu. The transaction, described as India’s largest single residential unit deal, gives Thakkar ownership of the entire tower rather than an individual apartment. Located on Juhu Tara Road, one of Mumbai’s most coveted residential addresses, Embassy Terrazza is an ultra-luxury, low-density development spread across more than two acres. The project comprises five towers with approximately 50 residences: one per floor, and has an estimated gross development value exceeding ₹3,000 crore. For Thakkar, the purchase was driven by clear priorities: privacy, spaciousness, sea views, and a long-term family sanctuary. He has named the residence “Angelus,” positioning it as a bespoke family home rather than a status symbol. The agreement was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed last week between Thakkar and Embassy Developments, which is executing the project under a development management model. Completion is scheduled for December 2031. The deal underscores continued demand for ultra-luxury homes in Mumbai’s established high-value residential markets, even as the broader real estate sector navigates economic headwinds. For Thakkar, who built Angel One from a traditional broking firm into one of India’s largest retail brokerage platforms, the purchase marks a significant personal real estate investment.

Pune, 22nd September 2026: India’s real estate investment trust (REIT) market is growing fast, but it still has a long way to go. Today, Indian investors can choose from six listed REITs managing over ₹3.17 lakh crore in assets. Compare that to Singapore, where investors have access to 39 actively traded REITs built over more than 20 years. The biggest differentiator is Diversity. India’s REITs are almost entirely focused on office buildings, Embassies, Brookfield, and Mindspace. Singapore’s REITs, on the other hand, cover everything: shopping malls, warehouses, data centres, hotels, student housing, and even healthcare facilities. This means Singaporean investors can spread their risk across different types of properties, not just one sector. Another key difference is geography. More than 90% of Singapore’s REITs own properties outside Singapore, in the US, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Indian REITs are still limited to domestic properties only. For Indian investors, the Singapore story offers an important lesson: don’t just chase high yields. Distribution yields in Singapore range from 4.6% to 7.1%, even within similar property types. This is after considering factors like quality of buildings, how much debt the REIT carries, and how secure the tenants are all matter. The same applies in India, REIT payouts include dividends, interest, and debt repayments, so looking at the headline yield alone can be misleading. SEBI’s rules are solid: REITs must distribute 90% of their income and can’t borrow more than 49% of their asset value. But as Singapore shows, a mature REIT market needs more than just good rules, it needs liquidity, research coverage, diversified products like REIT-focused ETFs, and investors who understand how REITs work. For Indian investors, the next phase of growth won’t just be about bigger office portfolios. It’s about access to different types of rental income and better risk diversification. Singapore took twenty years to get there. India’s journey has only just begun.