Track2Realty-JLLI: Recently, the annual GDP number (6.5% GDP growth during FY April 2011-March 2012) released by the Reserve Bank of India resulted in a negative sentiment throughout the real estate industry. Consistent with this, in 1H12, the demand for commercial real estate moderated on the back of office occupiers that remained cautious about their expansion plans.
Leading jewellery brand Kalyan Jewellers is planning to make a foray into the real estate market of Ahmedabad. The Rs 9400-crore company, which has 37 branches in six states of India, opened its 38th showroom in Ahmedabad on Sunday, Sep 16.
Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd (TRIL) is planning to raise two India-focused realty funds, including a $500 million international fund and Rs 300 crore ($55 million) domestic fund, according to reports in a section of media.
The Environment Ministry has now set new norms for buildings higher than four floors. However, experts question the compliance aspect. Sachin Sandhir, Managing Director (South Asia) of RICS is apprehensive with the enforcement of stricter norms for structural safety.
The US Government has hired property consultancy Knight Frank to assess the valuation and strategic review of all its real estate properties in India. The properties, which house embassies, consulates, offices, residences, schools and libraries at prime locations across Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata, were acquired over the years and are estimated to be approximately worth thousands of crores.
Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd (TRIL) proposes to invest over Rs 1700 crore in two to three years for various projects in the country, including Rs 550 crore in Kochi for a premium waterfront residential property, ‘Tritvam’, at Marine Drive.
An estimated 17500 residential units were launched by organised developers in the second quarter of 2012 in major cities across the country, registering a decline of nearly 44% over the previous quarter, says a report by global real estate consultancy, Cushman & Wakefield (C&W). This decline in launches can be attributed to a number of factors such as delay in approvals, significant inventory in certain locations as well as postponement of project to coincide new launches with the festival season.
Jones Lang LaSalle’s REIS findings are in, and a closer look at the 1H12 data reveals relatively subdued activity during the period compared to 1H11. In 1H12, the top seven cities of India together recorded a 35% dip in absorption compared to 1H11. The contraction in demand caused developers to progress more slowly on their projects thereby aligning the supply with demand.
India witnessed increased transaction activity and retailer expansion in H1, 2012. Leading brands and retailers pursued expansion plans aggressively, increasing their presence across key retail hubs. In all the seven cities presented in the review, the retail real estate market appears to be promising with an increase in retailer enquiries. These are the findings of CBRE’s latest report titled “India Retail Market view.”
The Hinduja Group, with a global presence in core sectors such as oil and gas, automotive, power, IT, banking and finance, today announced a major foray into the real estate sector in India involving an investment of up to $15 billion.