Overview

• The lieutenant governor, speaking at the AIFORERA Governing Council meeting in Srinagar, called the Urban Challenge Fund a game changer for turning cities into growth hubs.
• He said the initiative will involve states, union territories and private developers to drive innovation, strengthen infrastructure, improve ease of living and embed sustainability in urban planning.
• He urged a whole-of-government approach with accountability for timely project delivery and pressed for swift grievance redressal under the 2016 RERA framework.
• He asked developers to expand affordable housing and to safeguard construction workers’ health, education and basic rights, urging coordination with groups such as NAREDCO.
• He released AIFORERA’s 2024–25 Journal and Annual Report, attended the Atal Sarthi Programme launch at the University of Kashmir, and welcomed Indo‑Australian CSR proposals for community projects.