Real Estate may boast off to be the second largest economic activity and the largest employment provider in the economy, but when it comes to have a say in the policy making, they are found to be sulking.
Real Estate and Finance Minister seem to be at logger heads over the wants and needs of the sector. Interestingly when one proposes and the other disposes, both of them justify their stand in the name of “Aaam Aadmi”, the common man who is the consumer and the end-user. But in this cacophony of confusion the “Aaam Aadmi” is often found wondering as to who will ask for his wish list with Union Budget.
Seven years ago, the managing committee of the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) suddenly started breaking down the existing Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium to start building–what they led everyone to believe–would be Mumbai’s first international Olympic size indoor stadium. The project was conceived in 2003 to be worth around Rs 40 crore and scheduled to be completed in 18 months. Seven years and Rs 200 crore later, it still isn’t functional, but the superstructure is ready.
The country’s largest realty firm, DLF, is today launching one of the costliest residential projects offering 38 luxury housing units at a price range of Rs 15-25 crore. The company will launch a super luxury residential project DLF King’s Court, which is spread over 2.3 acres of land at Greater Kailash-II in South Delhi, with a project cost of about Rs 700 crore, PTI reported, citing sources.
The cash strapped realty companies can have a breather in budget for 2011-12 as the Finance Minister is expected to make announcement of a guarantee corpus for banks on realty lending. Track2Realty has learnt that the banks will get this guarantee corpus of Rs. 1000 crore to lend for housing projects.
Nearly all the real estate developers, a whopping 96 per cent, across the country are cribbing for the sectors’ continued under representation in the Union Budget over the years.
The Confederation of Real Developers Association of India has said the Government could consider a scheme along the lines of the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit allowed in the US with the benefits going directly to the consumer.
The 10th National Convention (NATCON) of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (CREDAI) is being held in New Delhi, Dec 16-17, and the focus this year is on the affordable housing. The convention will be attended by more than 600 leading real estate developers, heads of financial institutions, fund managers, bankers, state & central government representatives, realty professionals and international experts. The convention will highlight the areas of concern in providing affordable housing to meet the growing need of creating inclusive development in the sector.