Track2Realty: Transactions in India’s real estate space might have slowed down over the last two quarters, but the sector has not been overwhelmed by the state of the wider economy. Despite the subdued pre-election economic scenario, in fact, the period observed an increase in private equity activity.
Track2Realty Exclusive: Funding, or rather lack of it, has been one of the key concerns of the real estate developers throughout 2013, yet if some of the key policy decisions that have been taken in the year it seems 2014 is all set to get big ticket funding. The money is poised to be invested in the sector and if not as private equity, the biggies will put in money through Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).
Track2Realty: The government is working on a proposal to allow Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to participate in the country’s rental housing market.
Experts in the urban policy and planning are of the view that since none of the traditional solutions have worked, it calls for fresh approach and out-of-the-box thinking to make India slum free. Pranay Vakil, Chairman of Knight Frank India outrightly blames the ambiguous policies coming in the way of slum redevelopment. He says there is no dearth of expression of interest and even some of the international players had recently tied-up with the Indian partners for the same. He urges the Government for consistency in policy guidelines if slum free cities have to be a realty reality.
Ravi Sinha: Sachin, if I come back to the topic of consumer redressal, isn’t it true that lack of clarity in policy leads to consumer blackmailing also in cases like CCI against DLF. How do you see that?
BPTP is buying back Merrill Lynch’s 49% stake in its Crest office building in Gurgaon for Rs.180 crore. The developer has its corporate office in the same building.
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has plans of filing a defamation suit against CREDAI, which levelled allegations that bribes are being demanded by corporators.
The Sensex has always been a barometer of the country’s general economic ‘mood’. The real estate index, on the other hand, is an indicator of the sentiments towards real estate developers.