Indian hospital chain Fortis Healthcare is evaluating plans to launch a real estate investment trust, or REIT, to free up capital to fuel expansion, its finance chief has said.

Real estate developers have called for focussed support in the Budget for the first-time home buyer and measures to augment supply of housing for affordable and low income groups. Industry representatives have also called for a simplification of systems and tax reliefs as a step to bringing down costs and catalyse developments.