India Office Leasing Hits Record 24.6 mn Sq Ft in Q2

15 Jul 2026 CW Team

India's office market recorded its strongest quarterly performance in April–June 2026, with gross leasing touching a record 24.6 million (mn) square feet, driven by demand from flexible workspace operators and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). The CBRE report noted that absorption rose 18 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 14 per cent year-on-year. Developers delivered a record 21 mn sq ft of new office space during the quarter, marking the highest quarterly supply on record.

The first half of 2026 also marked the strongest six-month period on record as total office absorption reached around 45.5 mn sq ft and new supply stood at about 32 mn sq ft for January–June. Flexible workspace operators emerged as the largest occupier segment in the quarter, accounting for 27 per cent of leasing activity. GCCs continued to anchor demand, representing 42 per cent of absorption in Q2 and 43 per cent in H1.

On the supply side, about 76 per cent, or roughly 16 mn sq ft, of new completions in Q2 were green-certified while 74 per cent were located within integrated technology parks. Bengaluru led office leasing with a 27 per cent share in the quarter, and Bengaluru, Pune and Delhi?NCR together accounted for approximately 58 per cent of quarterly absorption. During H1, Bengaluru, Delhi?NCR and Mumbai together contributed about 61 per cent of total office absorption.

The report observed that Delhi?NCR recorded its highest-ever quarterly flexible workspace leasing and Pune posted its highest-ever quarterly office leasing, both markets driven largely by flexible workspace demand. Fortune 500 companies leased 6.8 mn sq ft of office space in the quarter, representing 28 per cent of total leasing. CBRE projected that GCCs would account for more than 40 per cent of total office space absorption in 2026 as technology-led demand and preference for high-quality assets continue to shape the market.

Infrastructure Transport

15 Jul 2026

Railways To Operate Over 300 Special Trains For Rath Yatra

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Indian Railways (IR) will operate more than 300 special trains for the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha and over 100 special trains during the Onam festival in Keralam. He flagged off the Nanded–Mumbai and Tanakpur–Nanded Express trains and inaugurated the extension of the Tanakpur–Pilibhit service up to Shahjahanpur via video conference from Rail Sadan in Bhubaneswar. He noted that the summer season, which concluded on 30 June, had seen a record 15,000 special trains. Vaishnaw stated that the newly launched services are intende..

Vande Bharat Express To Start From Tripura Soon

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said the Vande Bharat Express will commence operations from Tripura in the coming days after he flagged off the Agartala–Karimganj MEMU service at Agartala Railway Station. He recalled the rail history of the state, noting that a metre-gauge service first arrived in 1964 and that broad gauge reached Agartala in 2008 following national projects and later upgrades under the Act East policy. The event was described as a milestone for regional connectivity and the MEMU was presented as the first electric passenger train to originate from Tripura.\n\nSaha said he..

MEMU Suspension Disrupts Commuters Between Vadodara And Dahod

The Vadodara–Dahod Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) service has been temporarily suspended for 26 days after its rake was diverted to Odisha to manage the surge in passenger traffic during the annual Rath Yatra in Puri. Indian Railways redeployed several MEMU rakes from different zones to meet the additional travel demand for the festival scheduled from the seventh of July to the second of August. As a result, train numbers 69233 and 69234 operating between Vadodara and Dahod will remain cancelled for the duration. Railway authorities advised passengers to use alternative train service..