Shares in developer DB Realty hit a record low on Monday after its Managing Director Shahid Balwa, embroiled in a widening telecom corruption investigation, resigned from his position.
DB Realty Ltd has informed BSE that the Board of Directors of the Company on March 05, 2011 has noted and accepted the resignations of Mr. Shahid Balwa, as Managing Director and also as Director of the Company with effect from February 09, 2011 in view of his preoccupation relating to certain investigations.
Tata Realty Initiatives Fund-I, managed by Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd, has bought over Kotak India Real Estate Fund-I, a $100 million (Rs.450 crore) fund managed by Kotak Realty Fund in Peepul Tree Properties Pvt. Ltd for Rs.385 crore.
With only $400-500 million of foreign funds flowed into the Indian real estate sector in 2009-10, the outlook ahead seems to be far from being rosy.
At least four firms, Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Ltd (Ansal API), Emaar MGF Land Ltd, Kumar Urban Development Ltd and Paranjape Schemes Constructions Ltd, have received fresh sanctions from banks, although overall lending to the sector remains subdued.
For the Union Budget 2011-12, rising inflation, tight liquidity, high interest rate, industrial slowdown, delayed reforms and negative market sentiment were some of the key concerns to address.
Real Estate developers across the country have termed the Union Budget 2011-12 as a tie cricket match which can’t be termed as won or lost. However, they are all unanimous that it is not a game changer budget for the sector.
It would seem that the Union Budget 2011 pointedly ignored the larger issues affecting the Indian real estate sector at this sensitive stage of revival and growth.
We are happy with the governments focus on affordable housing. Loan amount that qualifies under priority sector lending. Now, a home loan of Rs. 25 lakh would qualify as priority sector lending.
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.