Unlocking India’s Inland Water Transport Potential: Analysis of the National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025

Inland water transport (“IWT”) in India holds immense potential as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternative for the movement of goods and passengers. With a vast network of approximately 14,500 km of navigable rivers, canals, and backwaters, India’s inland waterways offer a strategic advantage for long-haul transportation. However, IWTs currently constitute a fraction of the overall inter-modal transport mix. In order to create a conducive environment for development of inland water terminals in India, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has recently enactedthe National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025.This note provides a detailed analysis of these regulations.


MahaRERA order

MahaRERA Issues Key Circular on Execution of Deeds of Cancellation

Defaults by allottees in making timely payments continue to pose serious challenges for real estate promoters, often resulting in stalled inventory, disrupted cash flows, and project-level financial stress. While the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 permits cancellation of allotments in accordance with the agreement for sale, the absence of a clear statutory mechanism for giving effect to such cancellation—particularly where allottees refuse to cooperate—has led to prolonged deadlocks. Addressing this long-standing procedural gap, the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (“MahaRERA”) has now issued a significant circular prescribing a standard operating procedure for execution and registration of deeds of cancellation. This note examines the background to the Circular, the judicial developments that prompted it, and its practical implications for promoters, allottees, and registering authorities.