India’s residential real estate sector needs deeper institutional participation and a more supportive policy framework as urbanisation, infrastructure expansion and redevelopment reshape major cities, Raymond Realty Chairman Gautam Singhania said at the Real Estate & Infrastructure Investors’ Summit (REIIS) 2026.
Singhania called for the introduction of residential Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), arguing that such investment vehicles could bring more institutional capital into the housing market and support the growth of professionally managed rental assets.
“India’s real estate sector is at the epicentre of the nation’s transformation towards a $10 trillion-plus economy by 2047,” Singhania was quoted as saying.
“With the sector already contributing over 7 per cent to GDP, infrastructure-led growth is reshaping Mumbai and the MMR, creating new economic and residential growth centres,” he added.
Push for Residential REIT Framework
“The time has come for residential REITs,” Singhania said, highlighting their potential to channel institutional money into the residential segment.
He also advocated a dedicated policy framework for rental housing, saying changing urban demographics and housing preferences require a more structured and professionally managed rental market.
According to Singhania, stronger institutional participation could provide an additional source of long-term capital for the housing sector while supporting the development of rental-focused residential portfolios.
Easier Access to Project Finance
Financing was another major issue raised by the Raymond Realty chairman. He called for greater access to institutional funding to help developers manage substantial upfront costs associated with large housing and redevelopment projects.
Improved liquidity, he said, could help developers execute projects more efficiently while reducing financing pressures during the initial stages of development.
Singhania also called for faster urban redevelopment, particularly in Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where major infrastructure projects are opening up new development corridors.
GST Rationalisation Among Key Demands
Tax reform also featured prominently in his recommendations. Singhania called for rationalisation of GST in the real estate sector, alongside measures to expand institutional investment and improve financing access.
His broader policy agenda included residential REITs, a dedicated rental housing framework, easier project finance, GST reforms and faster redevelopment.
The proposals come as Mumbai undergoes a significant infrastructure transformation involving new transport links, emerging business districts and redevelopment initiatives. These changes are gradually shifting the geography of residential demand across the MMR.
Singhania said infrastructure-led growth was creating new economic and residential centres, potentially opening opportunities across housing, commercial real estate and other asset classes.
The combination of stronger connectivity, new urban centres and policy reforms could, he suggested, create a broader ecosystem for institutional investment and accelerate the next phase of India’s real estate growth.
Source: Business Today
