A new cement grinding facility with an annual production capacity of three million tonnes has been commissioned in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, with an investment of AED 115 million. The facility increases the region's total cement manufacturing capacity to seven million tonnes per annum and raises the overall production capacity to 76.3 million tonnes per annum. The new unit features advanced grinding technology, an integrated material-processing system, material-handling infrastructure and dust-collection facilities to support efficient production. The company also operates a waste heat recovery system with a green power generation capacity of 31.50 MW. Its total installed green power capacity has reached 634.5 MW. Renewable energy accounted for 66% of the company's total energy mix during the first quarter of the 2026–27 financial year, reflecting its continued focus on energy efficiency and sustainable manufacturing.

The Cooperation Department of Tamil Nadu has set a loan disbursement target of Rs 1.8 lakh crore for the 2026–27 financial year, marking an increase of Rs 30,000 crore compared with the previous year. The increase is largely attributed to the enhancement of gold loan eligibility. During the previous financial year, cooperative institutions disbursed approximately Rs 1.5 lakh crore in loans to around 90 lakh beneficiaries. For the current year, the department aims to extend loans to between one crore and 1.1 crore borrowers across 30 categories. Gold loans are expected to contribute significantly to the overall target. The eligible loan amount against gold jewellery has been increased from Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000 per gram. Gold loan disbursements stood at approximately Rs 70,000 crore in the previous year and are projected to reach Rs 1 lakh crore during 2026–27. The crop loan target remains unchanged at Rs 17,000 crore for the current financial year. Additionally, Rs 3,000 crore has been allocated for loans to the animal husbandry and allied sectors, while Rs 5,000 crore has been earmarked to support rural businesses through a new lending initiative. A further Rs 11,446 crore has been allocated for loans intended to improve the economic well-being and quality of life of farmers, women, youth, transgender persons, persons with disabilities and other eligible beneficiaries. To speed up loan distribution, special camps will be organised at cooperative banks and societies every Tuesday for the Singapenn Entrepreneur Credit Scheme and housing loan schemes. Camps targeting other priority sectors will be conducted on Fridays. The initiative aims to expand access to cooperative credit, support agricultural activities, encourage rural entrepreneurship and provide financial assistance to eligible sections of society across Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu government has urged the Union government to grant early approval for Chennai Metro Rail Phase 3 to expand connectivity across the metropolitan region. The proposed network includes routes connecting the airport to Kilambakkam and Poonamallee to Sunguvarchatram. The state has also requested the inclusion and early clearance of the Koyambedu–Pattabiram stretch in the approximately 65-km Phase 3 network to improve metro connectivity across Chennai. Meanwhile, a 14.64-km stretch between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani under Phase 2 has been opened for public use, while construction work continues on other sections of the network. The state has also sought approval for an interstate metro link connecting Hosur in Tamil Nadu with Bommasandra in Karnataka, which is expected to improve transportation between the two states. Additionally, the government has requested early clearance for a proposal to make Tamil the principal language of proceedings in the Madras High Court and sought the release of Rs 5,110 crore in pending central funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan scheme. Add a stronger news-style leadSeparate the metro and funding updates

Tamil Nadu is set to introduce paperless registration for four types of family property deeds from November 2, 2026, as part of the state’s ongoing digital transformation of property registration services. The new system will cover settlement deeds, release deeds, partition deeds and revocation of settlement deeds related to family arrangements. Under this initiative, eligible documents can be prepared, submitted and processed online through an electronic workflow, reducing the need for physical paperwork. However, the reform will not eliminate the requirement for parties to appear in person before the concerned Sub-Registrar. Physical presence will still be necessary for identity verification, Aadhaar authentication and completion of the prescribed registration formalities. The initiative aims to reduce repeated handling, movement and scanning of paper documents while minimising the need to maintain physical records at different stages of the registration process. It is also expected to improve document traceability, storage and retrieval. The implementation is part of the state’s broader efforts to modernise property registration through digital systems. The rollout will depend on software readiness, necessary workflow modifications and training for departmental officials and relevant stakeholders. Under the proposed process, digitally executed deeds and supporting documents will be submitted through the online registration facility and processed electronically. Following registration, the registered documents will be delivered digitally through the citizen’s login and preserved in the registration department’s digital system. The move is expected to make eligible family property transactions more convenient, improve administrative efficiency and support the development of a more transparent and citizen-friendly registration system across Tamil Nadu.

Several major banks have raised their lending rates following the Reserve Bank of India’s decision to increase the benchmark repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50%. Punjab National Bank, Indian Bank and Bank of Baroda have announced higher lending rates, increasing borrowing costs for customers. Other banks are also expected to revise their benchmark lending rates in the coming days. The RBI’s six-member Monetary Policy Committee unanimously approved the rate hike, marking the first repo rate increase in nearly four years. The central bank also shifted its stance to “calibrated tightening,” indicating that further rate increases could be considered depending on inflation and economic conditions. Tamilnad Mercantile Bank has already raised its Repo Linked Lending Rate (RLLR) from 8.25% to 8.50%. The increase in lending rates could raise monthly repayments for borrowers with floating-rate home loans and other loans. The RBI’s decision comes amid concerns over inflation, global interest rates and pressure on the Indian rupee.

The Reserve Bank has increased the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50%, marking a shift towards tighter monetary policy. The decision comes as inflation risks strengthen, global bond yields remain elevated and domestic economic activity continues to show resilience. The policy rate was previously maintained at 5.25%. The latest increase signals a greater focus on managing inflation while maintaining a balance with economic growth. Following the repo rate hike, the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate stands at 5.25%, while the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and Bank Rate have been increased to 5.75%.  The rate increase comes amid concerns that inflation could strengthen due to changes in commodity prices, energy costs and global financial conditions. Higher global yields can also influence domestic borrowing costs and financial-market conditions. The monetary policy stance has shifted towards calibrated tightening, indicating that further policy decisions could remain focused on controlling inflation and preventing persistent price pressures. Despite the tighter policy environment, domestic economic activity remains resilient. The Indian economy recorded 7.8% growth in the first quarter of FY2026–27. Manufacturing, services and domestic consumption have continued to support economic activity. Strong economic growth provides greater room for monetary authorities to focus on inflation management without immediately compromising overall economic momentum.  The repo rate has a direct impact on the broader borrowing environment. Banks and financial institutions may adjust lending rates depending on their funding costs and policy transmission. For homebuyers, a rise in lending rates could mean higher EMIs or increased interest costs, particularly for loans linked to floating-rate benchmarks. This may cause some buyers to reassess their property budgets and borrowing capacity. The real estate market could also see changes in buyer behaviour if borrowing costs remain elevated. However, strong employment, income growth and continued housing demand could help support residential property sales.  Future monetary-policy decisions are expected to depend on several factors, including inflation trends, crude oil prices, domestic growth, global interest rates and financial-market conditions. The latest decision therefore marks an important shift in the interest-rate cycle, with the possibility of further tightening depending on how inflation and economic conditions develop in the coming months. 

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to raise the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% at its October 7 monetary policy review, according to market expectations. The move could increase borrowing costs for customers with floating-rate home loans. A 25-basis-point increase could raise the EMI on a Rs 50 lakh home loan at 7.5% for 25 years by around Rs 817 per month, depending on the lender and loan structure. Borrowers may therefore face higher EMIs or a longer repayment period. The rate hike could also affect fixed-deposit investors, although existing FDs are generally expected to continue at their booked interest rates. Banks may increase rates on new FDs and renewals if market interest rates move higher. The possible rate increase could have a mixed impact on consumers, with home-loan borrowers facing higher borrowing costs while FD investors may get better rates on future deposits. The actual impact will depend on the RBI's final decision and how individual banks revise their lending and deposit rates.

A housing finance company is set to face a forensic audit following concerns over possible irregularities in its loan accounts and financial records. The investigation will examine whether fictitious, dummy or unsupported loan accounts were created and recorded in the company’s books. The regulator has invited audit firms to conduct an independent examination of the company’s loan portfolio. The audit will verify the existence of borrowers and review customer identification records, loan approvals, disbursements, bank accounts, supporting documents and repayment transactions. A key focus will be on identifying whether repayment entries were manipulated or incorrectly recorded. Auditors will also examine whether loan amounts were actually transferred to genuine borrowers and used for the purposes stated in the loan documents. The investigation will further examine whether the same loan assets were offered as security to more than one lender. Any such irregularity could have significant implications for the company’s financial position and its lenders. The regulator has also sought a loan-by-loan assessment of non-performing assets as of March 31, 2025, and March 31, 2026. The review will cover overdue amounts, loan reversals, restructuring arrangements and subsequent recoveries. If any irregularities are identified, the appointed auditor will be required to calculate their financial impact. The audit is expected to help determine the extent of potential issues in the company’s lending operations and financial reporting. The audit firm will conduct the investigation within a specified timeframe and submit a detailed report to the regulator. The exercise is part of broader regulatory efforts to strengthen transparency, verify loan records and identify potential financial risks in the housing finance sector.

Tamil Nadu will discontinue compulsory Saturday operations at 100 sub-registrar offices from November 1, 2026, reversing a policy introduced in 2022 to help people who are unable to visit registration offices on weekdays. The Commercial Taxes and Registration Department issued an order on October 1, cancelling the earlier directive that required the selected offices to remain open on Saturdays. The offices will now function only on weekdays. The decision aims to reduce the workload of sub-registrars as the state expands its presence-less and paperless property registration system, which allows eligible transactions to be completed without parties visiting registration offices in person. According to the department, Saturday registrations have contributed to delays in administrative work, as sub-registrars are also responsible for several other office duties apart from document registration. The revised system is expected to help streamline administrative operations, reduce pending work and maintain the quality of registration services as Tamil Nadu moves towards digital property registration.

Chennai has recorded its highest-ever tax revenue collection in the first six months of a financial year, generating Rs 1,436.75 crore through property tax and professional tax during the first half of FY 2026–27. The total revenue includes Rs 1,124.69 crore from property tax and Rs 312.06 crore from professional tax. Compared to the corresponding period of FY 2025–26, property tax collection increased by 12.95%, while professional tax revenue grew by 6.89%. The property tax collection came close to the first-half target of Rs 1,200 crore, achieving approximately 93.7% of the target. Around 9.20 lakh property tax assessees and 45,000 professional tax assessees have paid their taxes in full during this period. On September 30, the final day for paying the first-half property tax without penalty, the city collected Rs 50.26 crore in property tax and Rs 45.94 crore in professional tax, taking the day's total collection to Rs 96.20 crore. The increase in tax revenue has been attributed to regular monitoring, periodic reviews, micro-level collection planning and an intensive tax collection drive conducted in July. During the same period in FY 2025–26, the total tax collection stood at Rs 1,283 crore, comprising Rs 992 crore in property tax and Rs 291 crore in professional tax. The latest figures indicate an increase of Rs 153.75 crore in overall revenue. The city has approximately 4.15 lakh registered property taxpayers and more than 1.2 lakh professional taxpayers. The increased revenue collection is expected to support civic administration, infrastructure maintenance and the delivery of essential public services.

The cement industry is expected to face a prolonged period of excess capacity, with supply likely to grow faster than demand over the next few years. Installed cement capacity is projected to increase from around 654 million tonnes (mt) in FY25 to 702 mt in FY26, before reaching approximately 867 mt by FY29. Cement demand is also expected to remain healthy but is projected to grow at a slower pace than capacity. As a result, industry capacity utilisation could remain below 70% through FY29, according to industry estimates. Cement manufacturers are expected to add around 42 mt of capacity in FY27, 67 mt in FY28 and another 56 mt in FY29. Meanwhile, cement consumption is forecast to increase from approximately 486 mt in FY26 to 596 mt by FY29. Demand growth is estimated at 8.7% in FY26 and is expected to moderate to around 7.1% annually between FY27 and FY29. The continued addition of new production capacity could keep the supply-demand balance under pressure. With capacity expanding faster than consumption, cement manufacturers may face limited pricing power over the coming years. The trend could also have implications for the construction and real estate sectors, particularly through changes in cement prices, construction costs and project margins.

The deadline to pay property tax for the first half of the 2026–2027 financial year without penalty ends today, September 30, 2026, in Chennai. Property owners who fail to pay their dues within the specified deadline will be charged 1% interest per month on the outstanding tax amount. Residents have therefore been advised to complete their payments on time to avoid additional interest charges. Property tax and professional tax are among the major sources of revenue for the city administration and contribute towards infrastructure, civic services and development activities. Property tax is collected twice a year through the revenue and finance administration. Several payment options are available for residents. Property tax can be paid directly at zonal offices, ward offices and through tax collection officials. Residents can also make payments from home through the official online payment portal, mobile application, WhatsApp payment facility at 9445061913, and QR-code-based payment options. Property owners who have not yet paid their first-half property tax are advised to complete the payment today to avoid additional interest charges.