Raghavendra Kamath And Ishita Ayan Dutt

Stories by Raghavendra Kamath And Ishita Ayan Dutt

Maharashtra RERA blacklists 644 residential projects

Maharashtra RERA blacklists 644 residential projects

Rediff.com   1 Aug 2021

MahaRERA, the authority under Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, in Maharashtra, has blacklisted 644 housing projects in the state for not meeting project deadlines. The authority has prohibited them from being sold, advertised or marketed in the state. These projects were supposed to be completed and handed over to homebuyers in 2017 and 2018. Even though most of the projects are being developed by local developers, one big name on the list is Lavasa Corporation promoted by HCC whose registration expired in 2017.

ITC diversifying tobacco biz to capture US vaping market

ITC diversifying tobacco biz to capture US vaping market

Rediff.com   16 Jul 2021

The facility, which will manufacture nicotine and nicotine salts, will conform to stringent US and EU pharmacopoeia standards that define purity levels at 99.2 per cent for nicotine meant for pharmaceutical products. ITC will leverage the institutional capabilities of its century-old leaf tobacco business for this. ITC's cigarettes business saw disruptions across the value chain with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The company mentioned in its annual report that with easing of restrictions and improvement in mobility from September 2020 onwards, the business recovered progressively over the remainder of the year to reach nearly pre-Covid levels towards the close of the year.

How house designs are changing post Covid

How house designs are changing post Covid

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2021

Realty - Sunday

India Inc getting back in biz with no-jab-no-entry policy

India Inc getting back in biz with no-jab-no-entry policy

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2021

With the threat of a third Covid-19 wave looming large, companies are scrambling to protect employees and keep operations safe--from a no-jab-no-entry-at-workplace policy to ramping up vaccination, it's an all-out effort to prevent the scale of devastation seen in the first two waves. At least two top steel companies--Tata Steel and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India)--are pushing for vaccination certificates for entry into work premises. AM/NS India, a joint venture between world's leading steelmaker, ArcelorMittal, and Japan's Nippon Steel, is set to make vaccination the certificate a requirement from July 1.

Housing sector hopes for boost from pent-up demand

Housing sector hopes for boost from pent-up demand

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2021

The key demand drivers -- such as low home loan rates and income tax sops, particularly for affordable housing -- that supported the recovery in H2 FY2021, remain in place and will spur recovery again, feel experts.

Mumbai has 4-fold jump in property registration in June

Mumbai has 4-fold jump in property registration in June

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2021

Mumbai recorded a 4x growth in property registrations on a yearly basis in June this year, as restrictions imposed by the state government ended. Mumbai and its suburbs recorded property registrations of 7,857 units in June, compared to 1,839 units registered in June 2020. The registrations for June were also 39 per cent higher, compared to the same month in the pre-pandemic period of June 2019, said a new report by Knight Frank India.

Mall developers may offer rent waiver during 2nd Covid-19 lockdown

Mall developers may offer rent waiver during 2nd Covid-19 lockdown

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2021

While there was a sharp drop in footfalls in malls in H1FY21, there was reasonable recovery in H2. However, the second wave derailed the recovery.

How Bhaipo plans to make Trinamool a national player

How Bhaipo plans to make Trinamool a national player

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2021

33-year-old Abhishek Banerjee has emerged as the most visible and significant leader in the party after his pishi (aunt), Mamata Banerjee reports Ishita Ayan Dutt.

Despite its FMCG push, for D-Street ITC is still a tobacco play

Despite its FMCG push, for D-Street ITC is still a tobacco play

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2021

Most of the changes have come about in the last four years and ITC is now reaping the dividends - standalone revenues from the non-cigarettes FMCG business have grown 40 per cent from FY17 to Rs 14,728.21 crore in FY21 and pre-tax profits 30 times to Rs 823.69 crore. The business accounted for 30.58 per cent of gross revenues and 4.85 per cent of pre-tax profits in FY21. "In the last four years, our margins in FMCG have gone up by 640 basis points (bps) and EBITDA margins have been moving up consistently. "We created levers that enabled a sustained growth trajectory," said ITC chairman and managing director Sanjiv Puri. Puri took charge as the chief executive officer in 2017; in 2018, he was redesignated managing director and effective May 2019, he became chairman.

Is Darjeeling Tea Losing its Fizz?

Is Darjeeling Tea Losing its Fizz?

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2021

Scanty rainfall, last year's lockdown, growing competition from Nepal and the disaster of the 2017 Gorkhaland agitation are steadily weakening exports and sales of Darjeeling tea.

Why Alapan Bandyopadhyay matters in Mamata's Bengal

Why Alapan Bandyopadhyay matters in Mamata's Bengal

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2021

Those who know Alapan Bandyopadhyay describe him as measured, tactical and extremely focused on achieving what he sets out to do. To many it came as a surprise that he would cut short a meeting with the prime minister.

Hesitant at first, people rush to vaccination centres amid 2nd wave

Hesitant at first, people rush to vaccination centres amid 2nd wave

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2021

'Everyone wants to take a vaccine. The last time a camp was held, there were 1,000 people for 500 doses. People are waiting and returning disappointed. At times, it is creating problems. The demand is much more than the supply.' Ishita Ayan Dutt reports on how the West Bengal countryside is reacting to the vaccination drive.

Home sales in Tier II and III cities fall in April

Home sales in Tier II and III cities fall in April

Rediff.com   31 May 2021

With the arrival of the second Covid wave in April, the numbers fell by almost 50 per cent.

Covid: HCL Tech to HUL, corporate India extends a helping hand

Covid: HCL Tech to HUL, corporate India extends a helping hand

Rediff.com   17 May 2021

From helping their employees infected with the Covid-19 virus to vaccinating them or supporting the families of those who might have succumbed to the infection, several companies in India are trying to do their bit in this difficult time. Some have even widened their support net to include all stakeholders as well as an extended community. To the families of the employees it lost to Covid-19, Noida-headquartered IT services and consulting company HCL Technologies is, for instance, paying salary for a year, medical insurance for three years and extending support for their children's education for five years.

As Covid surge hits businesses, malls see rentals plunge

As Covid surge hits businesses, malls see rentals plunge

Rediff.com   14 May 2021

Consultants who help lease these properties say this is the steepest decline at least in a decade.

Centre-Bengal ties may hold key to investments

Centre-Bengal ties may hold key to investments

Rediff.com   6 May 2021

Though the mandate is seen largely an outcome of Banerjee's welfare schemes, she has promised to industrialise at a faster pace, or so read the manifesto.

Modi's Covid mismanagement helped Mamata

Modi's Covid mismanagement helped Mamata

Rediff.com   3 May 2021

'The last three phases, the Trinamool gained more than expected due to Covid mismanagement by the Centre.'

Vaccinating 70% of 18-44 year olds to cost Rs 300 bn

Vaccinating 70% of 18-44 year olds to cost Rs 300 bn

Rediff.com   1 May 2021

UP Rs 50 billion, followed by Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal which may need close to Rs 25 billion for the massive task.

India Inc lends a hand amid shortage of oxygen

India Inc lends a hand amid shortage of oxygen

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2021

Over the weekend, many companies stepped in to ease the bottleneck in supply and transportation of oxygen, as demand ran high with the surge in cases.

Localised lockdowns worry home appliance, auto firms

Localised lockdowns worry home appliance, auto firms

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2021

Durable goods companies and retailers say online sales won't compensate for the fall in offline sales.