Mixed reactions on Union Budget 2016-17
Industry players’ have given mixed reaction on the Union Budget…
Industry players’ have given mixed reaction on the Union Budget…
As the Union Budget 2016-17 draws closer, India’s real estate…
Anshuman Magazine, CMD of CBRE South Asia writes how tax…
For achieving 10% growth, India’s domestic economy needs to attract added investor interest, including that of overseas funds. Increased levels of foreign investments would be welcome for the Government’s recently launched “Make in India” initiative as well.
For the last four years everyone within the built environment of Indian real estate, homebuyers included, wanted a real estate regulator but the consensus eluded.
Today, the world sees India as a land of opportunity for business and investment. RBI head Raghuram Rajan said in mid-September that while fellow BRICs have deep problems, India appears to be an island of relative calm in an ocean of turmoil.
When the Government of India was announcing relaxation with FDI norms a day ahead of Diwali, many analysts thought it to be a Diwali gift for 15 core sectors that could also prolong the festive spirit for the real estate sector.
As the Modi Government completes its first year in office, there is no dearth of bouquets and brickbats for the NaMo regime in the media. On analysing the Modi government’s electoral assurances, the actions taken so far and the respective timelines being followed to achieve these, I would say that it is reasonably on track with fulfilling its short-term, medium-term and long-term promises.
New recommendations on the Real Estate Regulatory Bill were made by the ministry and sent to PMO for approval, and the cabinet has now approved it. Next, it will be tabled in the Parliament for passing the bill and making it an Act. In essence, reduction of minimum balance to be maintained in the escrow account of a project has been reduced from 70% to 50%. This amount from the monies collected from the buyers must be placed in an escrow account within 15 days.
Viewed dispassionately, the current government’s ‘Housing for all by 2022’ promise seems a bit unrealistic at the moment, as the modalities and concrete steps needed to be undertaken to achieve this goal have not been spelled out. Making 2 crore urban houses and 4 crore rural houses available is a huge undertaking in itself, and will require not only sustained government interest and investment but also substantial private sector investment and involvement.