DPIIT, HDFC Capital Sign MoU To Boost PropTech Innovation

04 Aug 2025 CW Team

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HDFC Capital Advisors Limited to promote innovation and support startups in the affordable housing and PropTech sectors. This strategic alliance reinforces DPIIT’s commitment to nurturing an inclusive, innovation-led startup ecosystem in line with the objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047.

A central pillar of the partnership is the H@ART Programme (HDFC Affordable Real Estate and Technology Programme), a dedicated initiative by HDFC Capital to boost efficiency and cut costs across the residential real estate development cycle. The programme seeks to create growth pathways through connections with the affordable housing ecosystem, strategic investments in emerging PropTech firms, and structured mentorship via accelerators, academic bodies, and investors.

Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, highlighted the importance of engaging with major industry players such as HDFC Capital to foster innovation and scalability across India’s expanding startup sector.

Vipul Roongta, Managing Director and CEO of HDFC Capital Advisors, remarked, “India’s startup ecosystem has made remarkable strides, and HDFC Capital is committed to accelerating innovation in affordable housing and PropTech to support national development goals.”

The MoU was formally signed by Mohammad Isharar Ali, Director at DPIIT, and Vipul Roongta, in the presence of senior representatives from both organisations.

This collaboration marks another significant step in DPIIT’s efforts to catalyse robust public-private partnerships and build a self-sustaining innovation ecosystem.

Infrastructure Urban

03 Oct 2025

Indian REITs Association Joins Global REIT Alliance

The Indian REITs Association (IRA) has become a member of the Global REIT Alliance, a coalition representing the global Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) sector. The alliance, launched at the European Public Real Estate Association’s 2025 ReThink conference in Stockholm, aims to promote cross-border cooperation, policy dialogue, and market standardisation for the growth of REITs as an investment asset class.The Global REIT Alliance, which includes members from 24 countries, focuses on promoting global awareness of securitised real estate, supporting sustainable investment, providing indust..

Vande Bharat May Soon Connect Chennai and Rameswaram

Southern Railway plans to introduce a Vande Bharat Express between Chennai and Rameswaram following the completion of electrification on the 53-km Ramanathapuram–Rameswaram section.A proposal has been submitted to the Railway Board to operate the new daytime service from either Chennai Egmore or Tambaram, aiming to ease congestion on existing overnight trains along the 600–660 km route.Officials noted that while the section is cleared for electric locomotives, a 220-metre gap near Uchipuli will undergo trials before the Vande Bharat is introduced. The final route will consider travel time,..

RITES Partners with Etihad Rail to Boost Infrastructure Collaboration

RITES, a leading transport infrastructure consultancy and engineering firm, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UAE-based Etihad Rail to enhance business collaboration with its subsidiary, National Infrastructure Construction Company (NICC).The partnership aims to combine RITES’ five decades of expertise in consultancy, transport infrastructure, and engineering with NICC’s execution capabilities, creating synergies for infrastructure projects across the UAE and other regions.The MoU was signed by HE Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Rahul Mithal, Chairman and Managing Di..