Browsing: Bengaluru

India’s competition watchdog has uncovered evidence suggesting that several major cement companies may have coordinated bids and pricing strategies in tenders issued by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), according to findings from a long-running investigation.

A confidential investigation report prepared by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) reportedly details a 12-year period of alleged collusion involving multiple cement suppliers participating in ONGC tenders for oil well cement. The probe, which examined bidding patterns between 2007 and 2018, highlights suspected price coordination, volume allocation and attempts to limit foreign participation in public procurement contracts.

For millions of aspiring homeowners across India, purchasing a house often requires financial support beyond a traditional home loan. To make homeownership more accessible, the government introduced the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), one of the country’s flagship housing programmes aimed at promoting affordable housing.

The scheme provides financial assistance through interest subsidies on home loans, helping eligible buyers reduce the overall cost of owning a home. Over the years, PMAY has emerged as one of the most widely used housing initiatives in India, particularly benefiting first-time homebuyers and middle-income families.

Large-scale real estate developments are not just about constructing buildings—they shape how cities grow, how people live, and how businesses operate for decades. As urban centres expand and evolve, developers are increasingly required to think beyond immediate project delivery and focus on long-term urban impact.

In a recent interaction, Adrija Agarwal, President of Sattva Group, shared insights on the responsibility that comes with leading large-scale real estate developments and the importance of designing spaces that can adapt to future needs.

Swedish furniture giant IKEA is accelerating its expansion in India with a ₹7,000 crore investment in the National Capital Region (NCR) and plans to open 25 new small and medium format stores over the next four to five years. The company is also aiming to make its India operations profitable by the end of FY28 as it scales up its presence through an omnichannel retail strategy.

According to IKEA India CEO Patrik Antoni, the company will focus on expanding its store network, increasing revenue, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening local sourcing to reach profitability.

The global steel industry is facing fresh pressure as the escalating Middle East conflict pushes crude oil prices to $90 per barrel and drives a sharp rise in global freight rates. According to BigMint Research, increasing military tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel are triggering higher energy and logistics costs, which are directly impacting steel production costs worldwide, including in India.

India’s aviation sector has grown rapidly over the past two decades, reflecting the country’s economic expansion and rising mobility needs. With a population of over 1.4 billion, the nation depends heavily on robust transportation infrastructure to connect cities, industries and international markets.

Airports today function far beyond their traditional role as transit points. They have evolved into large infrastructure ecosystems that support tourism, trade, logistics and regional economic growth.

Alcove Realty has announced the launch of Triveni Omniplex, the first large-scale shopping mall in Hooghly district, marking a significant milestone for the region’s retail infrastructure.

Located on Grand Trunk Road in Serampore, the mall is scheduled for a soft launch on March 13 and aims to introduce a modern retail and lifestyle destination to the district.

Leading real estate developer Puravankara Limited has announced a joint development project on Hennur Road, further strengthening its presence in one of Bengaluru’s fastest-growing residential corridors.

The company revealed that the 4-acre land parcel project will have an estimated gross development value (GDV) exceeding ₹1,300 crore and a total saleable area of approximately 0.84 million square feet. The residential development is expected to be launched within the next 6–12 months.

The upgraded Kalyani Expressway is reshaping travel across northern Kolkata, offering a faster signal-free corridor that significantly improves connectivity between the city’s suburbs and Kalyani.

Infrastructure projects often redefine how cities grow and connect. The newly upgraded expressway is one such development that is transforming mobility across the northern stretches of Kolkata and its surrounding suburban towns.

Stretching nearly 40 kilometres, the expressway now functions as a high-speed route linking Kolkata with Kalyani. Running parallel to National Highway 34, the corridor provides a faster alternative for commuters who previously had to travel through heavily congested urban routes passing towns such as Barrackpore, Sodepur, and Naihati.

For much of the twentieth century, workplace design followed a simple formula—rows of desks, structured layouts and strict hierarchies aimed at maximising efficiency. Offices were built to support operations, often without considering the deeper needs of the people working inside them.

According to architect Fancy George, Founder of Unalome by Fancy George and Co-Founder of WiRENet World, that traditional model is rapidly evolving. After more than three decades of experience across architecture, corporate real estate and workplace strategy, George believes modern offices must now prioritise human experience, wellbeing and collaboration.