#WeeklyNewsRoundup: Kanpur, Agra Metro Projects Get Cabinet Nod

The Union Cabinet on February 28 approved Kanpur and Agra Metro rail projects, a move to boost public transport connectivity in the two Uttar Pradesh cities. The estimated cost of the Kanpur Metro project is over Rs 11,076 crore and the Agra project is nearly Rs 8,380 crore. Both the projects will be completed in five years.

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Presenting a vote-on-account in the Legislative Assembly, the Maharashtra government on February 27 allocated Rs 6,895 crore for affordable housing and Rs 2,400 crore for smart cities and the Amrut Mission. Additionally, the government said the Metro network in state capital Mumbai would be extended to 276 km from the current 11.4 km. The Metro network would also be extended to satellite towns surrounding Mumbai such as Thane, Mira-Bhayander, Vasai Virar, Kalyan-Dombivali and Bhiwandi.

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The Rajasthan government has decided not to charge stamp duty on transfer of immovable property from a husband to his wife as a gift. So far, one per cent stamp duty was charged on such transfers. Under the present system, 2.5 per cent stamp duty is charged on the market price of the property in case of its transfer in the name of father, mother, son, sister, daughter-in-law, grandson or daughter as a gift.

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The government on February 25 approved over 5.6 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for the urban poor, taking the total number of houses being funded by the government to more than 79 lakh. Of these, 179,215 houses would be built in Uttar Pradesh while 110,618 units would be constructed in Andhra Pradesh.

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As the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants Act, 2017, comes into effect, landlords in the state will now have to get the rent agreements registered to let their residential and commercial buildings.

Source: Media reports