With NCR’s pollution levels soaring, interest in second homes in hill stations like Dehradun, Kasauli, Rishikesh, Nainital, and Shimla has skyrocketed. Queries for these scenic getaways have more than doubled, as middle-class buyers from NCR seek budget-friendly escapes within driving distance.

Residents of Mumbai were becoming worried about the unlawful reclamation of the Wadala salt pans, which threatened a saltwater lake and adjoining mangroves. Land-grabbing was reportedly harming the ecosystem at Eastern Freeway entrance and exit sites.