A first-time homebuyer in Bengaluru waits months for project approvals to translate into possession. A mid-sized developer in Pune watches capital costs rise as permissions stall. These situations are familiar across India’s property market.

The real estate industry, which is currently valued at around $320 billion (₹26.5 trillion), is projected to reach $1 trillion (₹83 trillion) by 2030. Its share of GDP has already increased from less than 5% in the 2000s to 6–8% currently, and it is anticipated to surpass 10% well before 2047. This trajectory aligns with India’s ambition to become a $30 trillion (₹2,490 trillion) economy. Yet capital alone will not enable this growth. Ease of doing business, regulatory certainty, and execution speed will.

This article examines how improving ease of doing business across approvals, financing, land administration, and project execution can reduce friction and lower risk, positioning real estate as a central engine of India’s economic journey toward 2047.

Key Takeaways

• India’s real estate sector is on track to expand from $320 billion (₹26.5 trillion) to $1 trillion ₹83 trillion) by 2030, positioning ease of doing business as a decisive factor in achieving sustained, large-scale growth.

• Capital inflows signal structural confidence, reflected in $943 million (₹78 billion) of institutional investments in a single quarter and strong office absorption, indicating long-term commitment rather than cyclical recovery.

• Investment access is broadening rapidly, as fractional ownership enables entry from ₹10,000, with the segment expected to scale from $500 million (₹41.5 billion) to over $5 billion (₹415 billion) by 2030, reshaping participation in income-generating assets.

• Sustainability has moved into the mainstream, with over 11,000 green projects covering 10.27 billion square feet, demonstrating that ESG adoption is now integral to asset valuation, financing, and buyer preference.

• Reforms driven by DPIIT, RERA, digitised approvals, and coordinated centre–state frameworks mean that execution speed, compliance readiness, and regulatory clarity will increasingly separate scalable developers from stalled projects.

Redefining Ease of Doing Business for India’s Real Estate Ambition

Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) refers to the clarity, efficiency, and predictability of laws, regulations, and administrative processes that govern how businesses operate. In real estate, EoDB directly influences how land is acquired, approvals are secured, financing is accessed, projects are executed, and assets are ultimately sold and registered.

From Ashwinder R. Singh’s perspective, shaped by his role on the CII Ease of Doing Business National Task Force, reform is about designing a system where developers, investors, and institutions can plan with certainty, execute without friction, and scale responsibly. Consistency across states and departments will ultimately determine whether real estate can support a trillion-dollar economic expansion.

While incremental reforms have eased some bottlenecks, the next phase of growth depends on synchronising regulations, digitising workflows, and aligning incentives across the entire real estate value chain.

Structural Frameworks That Shape Real Estate Execution

• Predictable Approval Pathways Across Agencies: Clear sequencing of approvals and stronger coordination between departments reduce idle time, allowing projects to move from planning to construction without prolonged capital lock-in.

• Real-Time Compliance and Project Monitoring: Digital reporting and transparent compliance tracking improve visibility for regulators, lenders, and buyers, lowering execution risk and strengthening institutional confidence.

• Financing Access Linked to Governance Quality: Projects with documented compliance and predictable approvals attract lower-cost capital, improving financial viability and enabling developers to scale responsibly.

• Certainty in Sales, Registration, and Title Transfer: Standardised documentation and digital registration systems minimise ambiguity, accelerate transactions, and reinforce buyer trust across residential and commercial assets.

• Defined Accountability After Project Delivery: Clear post-handover obligations, including defect resolution timelines and grievance redressal, ensure long-term buyer confidence and protect the sector’s credibility.

With these structural reforms setting the foundation, the next question is what forces will actively propel Indian real estate’s scale, demand, and investment momentum through 2030.

8 Key Growth Drivers Behind Indian Real Estate’s Expansion Through 2030

This decade represents a structural inflection point for Indian real estate. Demand drivers are no longer cyclical or speculative; they are anchored in demographics, policy reform, capital flows, and technology. Each growth driver below reflects why the sector is positioned to scale sustainably toward 2030 and how ease of doing business amplifies that momentum.

1. Urbanisation and Demographic Momentum

Urbanisation is reshaping how Indians live, work, and consume real estate. The scale and speed of this shift create durable, multi-segment demand that extends well beyond housing.

• By 2030, nearly 38% of India’s population will live in urban areas, adding sustained demand for housing, offices, logistics, retail, and social infrastructure.

• Tier I cities continue to densify while Tier II and emerging cities attract new residential and commercial development.

• First-time homebuyers seek proximity to jobs and transit, while experienced buyers focus on premium, well-connected micro-markets.

• Developers benefit from scale-led projects, but face execution pressure due to land and approval bottlenecks.

2. Government Policy Support and RERA Impact

Policy reform has shifted Indian real estate from opacity to accountability. Regulatory certainty now underpins buyer confidence and institutional capital inflows.

• RERA enforces escrow discipline, project disclosures, and grievance redressal, directly strengthening homebuyer trust.

• PMAY expands affordable housing demand, while the Smart Cities Mission integrates infrastructure, mobility, and real estate planning.

• Organised developers gain from compliance-driven consolidation, while lenders and investors benefit from reduced risk.

• Brokers and legal professionals operate in a more standardised, professional network.

3. FDI, REITs, and the Rise of Organised Capital

Capital access has fundamentally changed the structure of Indian real estate. Institutional participation now drives transparency, scale, and long-term asset quality.

• India’s services sector contributes over 55% of GDP, sustaining demand for Grade A office and mixed-use assets.

• REITs and SM REITs enable income-generating assets to reach retail and HNI investors.

• Fractional ownership platforms allow participation with investments as low as ₹10,000.

• The fractional ownership market is valued at $500 million (₹41.5 billion) in 2025 and is projected to exceed $5 billion (₹415 billion) by 2030.

4. Technology, Innovation, and PropTech Adoption

Technology is improving efficiency across the real estate lifecycle, from land discovery to asset management. Digital adoption directly reduces friction and costs.

• Smart home systems and IoT-enabled buildings enhance occupant experience and asset value.

• BIM, AI-driven analytics, and automation reduce construction delays and cost overruns.

• Students and professionals gain new roles in data analytics, compliance, and digital asset management.

5. Favourable Interest Rate Environment and NRI Investment

Financing conditions play a decisive role in sustaining residential demand and cross-border capital flows.

• Stable interest rates improve mortgage affordability for salaried and first-time buyers.

• Lower EMIs expand buyer eligibility and improve sales velocity for developers.

• NRIs increase participation due to currency advantages, transparency, and rental yields.

• Residential and commercial assets benefit from diversified demand sources.

6. Sustainability as an Economic Growth Driver

Sustainability is no longer a niche preference; it is a financial and operational necessity for long-term real estate value creation.

• Real estate contributes 7% to GDP today and is projected to reach 13% by 2025.

• Institutional investors increasingly price ESG compliance into valuations.

• Energy-efficient buildings reduce lifecycle costs for owners and occupants.

• Homebuyers prioritise air quality, energy savings, and long-term liveability.

7. Green Building Movement and Resource Efficiency

Green buildings demonstrate how economic growth and environmental responsibility can align at scale.

• India has over 18,000 IGBC-registered projects covering more than 15 billion sq ft.

• LEED-certified buildings span over 7.23 million square metres.

• Developers adopt solar power, efficient materials, and water conservation systems.

• Green assets attract institutional tenants and reduce operating costs.

8. Regulatory Support and Construction Innovation

Modern construction practices are shortening timelines and improving quality but require regulatory alignment to scale.

• Prefabrication and modular construction reduce waste and project timelines.

• BIM optimises design, procurement, and resource utilisation.

• Water conservation and recycling systems are becoming standard in new developments.

• Faster execution improves capital efficiency for developers and investors.

Also Read: What is Section 54 of the Transfer of Property Act?

Now that we’ve outlined the forces driving growth, it’s important to examine the obstacles and openings shaping this trajectory.

5 Challenges and Opportunities in Indian Real Estate

India’s real estate sector is undergoing what industry analysts increasingly describe as a structural recovery rather than a cyclical rebound. While this growth trajectory is compelling, execution challenges continue to shape outcomes on the ground.

1. Housing Affordability

Despite strong demand, affordability remains stretched due to rising land prices, prolonged approval timelines, and higher construction costs, particularly in Tier I cities. First-time buyers often fall outside existing “affordable housing” definitions despite genuine affordability constraints.

Opportunity: Updating income and price thresholds to reflect current realities, combined with credit guarantee schemes for homebuyers, can materially expand access. Faster approvals and reduced holding costs directly lower per-unit prices, improving both buyer access and developer viability.

2. Regulatory and Infrastructure Challenges

Fragmented approvals, inconsistent zoning regulations, and varying interpretations of RERA across states increase execution risk. Infrastructure delivery frequently lags real estate development, affecting absorption and liveability.

Opportunity: DPIIT-led ease-of-doing-business reforms, supported by CII’s engagement with state governments, can standardise single-window clearances and digitised land records. Coordinated urban planning can significantly reduce time overruns and revive stalled capital.

3. Market Volatility and Economic Uncertainty

Real estate remains sensitive to interest rates, global capital cycles, and macroeconomic shocks. Post-pandemic recovery has not been uniform across asset classes or geographies.

Opportunity: Data from JLL shows Indian real estate attracted $943 million (₹78 billion) in institutional investments in Q1 2022 alone, signalling sustained long-term confidence rather than speculative recovery. Diversification into offices, logistics, organised retail, and REIT-backed assets is improving resilience across cycles.

4. Sustainability Cost Barriers and Skill Gaps

High upfront costs of green materials and limited availability of skilled professionals trained in sustainable construction slow adoption, especially among mid-sized developers.

Opportunity: Scaling domestic green material manufacturing and targeted skilling initiatives can lower costs. As ESG-linked capital grows, sustainability increasingly becomes a route to cheaper capital rather than a cost burden.

Also Read: How to Invest in Dubai Real Estate from India: A Complete Guide

5. Data Transparency and Market Fragmentation

Inconsistent data across cities and fragmented brokerage systems complicate pricing, yield forecasting, and institutional underwriting.

Opportunity:  The gap is being narrowed by PropTech platforms and regulated investment structures that standardise disclosures, digitise asset data, and enable fractional participation in income-generating commercial real estate across major office markets such as Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, improving transparency, comparability, and investor confidence.

Large-scale real estate growth depends on execution certainty. BCD India’s success across complex, compliance-heavy projects offers practical insight into applying ease-of-doing-business reforms on the ground.

With these realities in view, let’s turn to the trends redefining how the sector will continue to develop.

6 Emerging Trends and Future Outlook for Indian Real Estate

The next phase of India’s real estate development will be defined by institutionalisation, sustainability, and execution efficiency. What is emerging is a more organised and investment-grade system aligned with global standards.

1. Smart Cities and Digital Transformation

Urban growth is increasingly anchored in smart, data-led planning rather than ad-hoc expansion. Smart cities are becoming testing grounds for how real estate integrates with infrastructure and governance.

• Smart city development is increasingly aligned with transit corridors, digital utilities, and integrated infrastructure planning.

• Digitised land records, online approvals, and GIS-based zoning reduce disputes and execution delays.

• For developers and investors, this improves predictability; for homebuyers, it enhances liveability and service access.

• DPIIT’s digitisation initiatives, supported by CII-led public–private collaboration, are central to scaling these reforms nationally.

2. Sustainability, Reforestation, and Green Buildings

Sustainability has shifted from a regulatory requirement to a commercial differentiator. Environmental performance increasingly influences asset valuation, capital access, and buyer preference.

• Sustainability is now influencing buyer behaviour, beyond compliance. A growing segment of homebuyers factors air quality, green cover, and long-term health outcomes into purchase decisions, an insight increasingly highlighted in urban housing coverage, including Hindustan Times analyses on AQI and liveability.

• Green buildings, urban reforestation, and water-positive designs are becoming differentiators in large townships and commercial campuses.

• Institutional investors increasingly price ESG performance into asset valuations and capital allocation decisions.

3. Technology Integration and Innovation

Technology is redefining how real estate is planned, built, sold, and managed. Efficiency, transparency, and data now drive competitive advantage.

• BIM, AI-driven analytics, and prefabrication technologies are shortening construction timelines and improving cost certainty.

• PropTech platforms are standardising discovery, due diligence, and transaction workflows.

• Smart buildings and IoT-enabled asset management improve operational efficiency, particularly in commercial real estate.

4. Affordable Housing Advocacy

Affordable housing remains essential to inclusive growth, but existing definitions no longer reflect on-ground realities. Reform is essential to expand genuine access.

• Current income and price thresholds exclude many first-time buyers

• Updating affordable housing definitions can generate latent demand

• Credit guarantee schemes reduce lender risk and expand home loan access

• Faster approvals and higher FAR utilisation lower per-unit development costs

5. Organised Retail and Commercial Real Estate Expansion

​​Rising urban consumption and formalisation of retail are directly expanding demand for mall-led retail and Grade A office spaces in Bengaluru and NCR. 

• The organised retail real estate segment is expected to grow by 28%, reaching approximately 82 million square feet, driven by consumption growth and formal retail expansion.

• Office leasing has shown strong momentum, with 66.7 million square feet transacted in the first nine months in 2025, led by Bengaluru and NCR, according to Knight Frank.

6. Ease of Doing Business and Construction Efficiency

Projects with predictable approvals and state-aligned compliance are reaching market faster and at lower capital cost. Precast and prefabrication adoption is cutting construction timelines, while DPIIT and CII-led reforms are standardising execution norms across states.

• Streamlined approvals, predictable compliance, and faster construction will increasingly define competitiveness.

• Adoption of precast and prefabrication technologies can materially reduce project timelines and capital lock-in.

• DPIIT’s reform agenda, reinforced by CII’s industry partnerships, is essential to normalising innovation-friendly regulations across states.

Also Read: Legal Insights on Section 53A of Transfer of Property Act

Next, we look at the policy engines accelerating many of these changes.

DPIIT’s Impact on Real Estate Ease of Doing Business

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has been pivotal in modernising India’s real estate regulatory framework. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles, improving transparency, and streamlining approvals, DPIIT is making it easier for developers and investors to plan and execute projects efficiently.

Ashwinder R. Singh, through his active role in the CII Ease of Doing Business National Task Force, has championed reforms that address practical inefficiencies in approvals and compliance, ensuring policies translate into real-world benefits for developers, investors, and end-users alike.

Key Contributions by DPIIT in Real Estate:

• Accelerated Project Approvals: Coordinated processes between central and state agencies have shortened timelines, allowing faster project launches.

• Digital Land Records: Modernised land registry systems make transactions quicker, reduce disputes, and enhance transparency.

• Greater Regulatory Transparency: Mandatory project disclosures simplify compliance and build trust among buyers and investors.

• Easier Access to Funding: Clearer regulatory pathways improve developer creditworthiness, reducing financing costs.

• Stronger Investor Confidence: Investment-friendly measures attract both domestic and foreign capital, boosting sector growth and stability.

DPIIT’s initiatives, supported by collaboration with industry stakeholders, lay the foundation for a more predictable and investor-friendly real estate environment as India moves toward 2047.

Also Read: Top Real Estate Advertising Ideas for 2026: Best Approaches

Building on government action, industry collaboration plays a major role in execution.

CII’s Role in Advancing Real Estate Reforms

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has been a key partner in translating policy into actionable change for the real estate sector. Its collaboration with DPIIT ensures that regulatory improvements are practical, consistent, and aligned with industry needs.

As the current Chairman of the CII Real Estate Committee (Northern Region), Ashwinder R. Singh has helped shape reforms that reduce operational bottlenecks, promote compliance, and enhance transparency, making real estate processes more efficient for developers and investors. 

CII’s Key Contributions to Real Estate Reform:

• Streamlined Approvals: Promoted single-window clearance mechanisms, reducing delays and project holding costs.

• Uniform Regulations Across States: Standardised rules minimise compliance challenges for developers working across multiple regions.

• Sustainable Development Incentives: Advocated for green building policies and financial incentives, lowering costs and attracting conscious investors.

• Facilitating Public-Private Partnerships: Enabled access to government-backed support for large-scale urban development projects.

• Enhanced Trust and Transparency: Strengthened RERA compliance frameworks to protect buyers, reduce disputes, and increase investor confidence.

Thanks to CII’s active advocacy and Ashwinder R. Singh’s strategic insight, India’s real estate sector is becoming more predictable, transparent, and growth-oriented, paving the way for trillion-dollar opportunities by 2047.

Also Read: Top 10 Cities for Real Estate Investment in India (2026)

Now that we’ve seen how reforms take shape, let’s explore leadership driving impact on the ground.

Ashwinder R. Singh’s Vision for Scaling India’s Real Estate Economy

Ashwinder R. Singh brings decades of experience across real estate development, institutional finance, and advisory roles to India’s long-term growth agenda. As Vice Chairman and CEO of BCD Group, he combines on-ground execution with strategic insight, demonstrating how improved ease of doing business in real estate can generate large-scale, trillion-dollar opportunities for investors, developers, and professionals.

Ashwinder R. Singh also plays an important role in shaping public understanding of the sector through media. As an integral contributor to Republic TV’s new show R Estate, he helps simplify policy reforms, market trends, and investment considerations, making real estate insights more accessible to buyers, investors, and industry participants nationwide.

He regularly engages in CII–DPIIT policy dialogues, including cabinet-level moderated discussions with leaders such as Shri Nitin Gadkari and Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, advocating unified approvals, transparency, and predictable service timelines.

Through his books, keynote engagements, and advisory work, Ashwinder R. Singh consistently simplifies complex regulatory, financial, and operational challenges into clear, actionable guidance. His authored works, such as Master Residential Real Estate and The A to Z of Residential Real Estate, equip homebuyers, investors, students, and professionals with practical frameworks covering due diligence, location selection, financing, pricing, and legal risk management. 

The Values Behind the Vision: Colonel Sirinder Raj Singh’s Enduring Legacy

Ashwinder R. Singh’s leadership approach is deeply influenced by his father, the late Colonel Sirinder Raj Singh, whose life reflected an unwavering commitment to duty, discipline, and integrity.

Commissioned into 15 DOGRA in 1962, Colonel Singh served with distinction as Second-in-Command of 31 GUARDS (later 13 GUARDS) in Nagaland and later commanded 5 GUARDS from 1974. Wounded during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, he supervised the surrender of arms at the Dhaka Cantonment Golf Club with moral authority and operational discipline.

After retiring from the Indian Army in 1984, he continued his service internationally as Head of Logistics for UN Volunteers in Cambodia, where he made the ultimate sacrifice in 1993. This legacy of principled leadership continues to shape Ashwinder R. Singh’s emphasis on ethical governance, accountability, and institution-building within India’s real estate ecosystem.

Read Ashwinder R. Singh’s Biography for a comprehensive view of his experience, thought leadership, and contributions to Indian real estate.

Conclusion

The future of Indian real estate 2030 will hinge on how effectively the ease of doing business is improved across the entire value chain. The rise of fractional ownership, REITs, green buildings, and smart city–led development shows what becomes possible when clear policy intent is matched by consistent execution.

As DPIIT sets reform benchmarks and CII enables sustained collaboration between government and industry, real estate has the opportunity to grow from a fragmented, friction-heavy sector into a predictable growth engine, delivering affordable housing, institutional-grade assets, employment, and resilient urban development at scale.

To understand how DPIIT reforms and CII-led initiatives translate into real-world impact, subscribe to Ashwinder R. Singh’s newsletter for policy updates, reform insights, and execution-focused guidance on real estate transformation.

FAQs

1. How does ease of doing business directly impact real estate project profitability in India?

Single window approvals reduce holding costs, improve cash-flow predictability, attract institutional capital, and shorten delivery timelines, directly increasing project viability and buyer confidence nationwide outcomes.

2. Why are REITs and fractional ownership important for Indian real estate investors?

REITs and fractional platforms offer regulated, income-yielding exposure to commercial assets, enabling diversification, liquidity, and professional management without direct ownership or operational responsibilities for investors.

3. Do sustainable buildings actually improve financial returns for developers and investors?

Sustainable buildings lower operating costs, command premium rents, attract institutional tenants, and reduce regulatory risk, improving long-term asset value and financing access for developers nationwide.

4. How can developers reduce reliance on pre-sales for funding future projects?

Developers can diversify funding through REIT exits, private equity, construction finance, and structured debt, reducing dependence on pre-sales while improving balance-sheet resilience and execution certainty.

5. What skills will matter most for careers in Indian real estate by 2030?

Future-ready real estate careers will focus on compliance, ESG reporting, data analytics, project management, and PropTech operations, driven by regulation, digitisation, and institutionalisation across India.