Business
M3M Foundation focuses on worker upliftment

Dr. Payal Kanodia is a Trustee in M3M Foundation, a philanthropic arm of M3M India — one of the leading real-estate companies in India.
The prime focus of the M3M Foundation has been on health, education, disaster management and socio-economic development to transform rural lifestyle. As one of the promoters in M3M India, Payal also supports business.
A doctor by qualification, Payal has been conferred the Grand Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations & Diplomacy from International University of Fundamental Studies, St. Petersburg Russia and is a Diplomatic member of CDI. She has pursued her entrepreneurship from HBS, Boston.
Speaking to IANS, Payal said, “At M3M Foundation, we believe in sustainable change and making the beneficiaries responsible. There is so much to be done in India and I believe that while we retain our focus on what we would like to emphasize through our Foundation, we should also be supporting State and Central Government in their mission to make a better India.”
Payal has been a keen observer throughout. While visiting construction sites of M3M India, she observed that many workers and labourers have left their small children at home — most of them unattended, and these children certainly needed proper attention and care.
Payal says, “I observed that the children of workers & labourers were generally left at home and when I interacted with our workforce, I realised that they were quite worried about the well-being of their children, their education and future. As a responsible Company, we had to do something for their children. And with this thought, M3M Foundation launched project — iMpower, an Initiative for Maximising Potential of Workforce through Ensuring Resources. Through our collaboration with national and international organisations and foundations, we are now able to provide education & good health to these children, and also ensuring skill enhancement for the women workforce. Very soon we shall be setting-up skill development centres for these women. The whole effort is to build a life of dignity for them.”
Recently, M3M Foundation’s project “iMpower” has been recognized as the “Most Innovative Community Engagement Project 2021” during the India CSR Leadership Awards held in Bengaluru.
Payal also passionately described the contribution of M3M Foundation during the pandemic times. “I always believe that most of the companies do have a strong focus on philanthropy and they execute programs through their Foundations. I also understand that since we all work for the betterment of the society and the nation, such Foundations should also be seen as an extension of philanthropic arm of the Government. We are too partners in prosperity. With this focus, during the Covid pandemic lockdown, we aligned with the Government of Haryana and brought together corporate entities, real estate groups, business entities, NGOs, religious bodies and individuals, and were able to support more than 2 lakh needy people for food, health and hygiene. We named this initiative as — ‘Kartavaya’, and indeed it was an immense responsibility shared by all of us,” she said.
In order to promote employability-based training and to fight unemployment, M3M Foundation has signed an MoU with Government of Haryana to help about 50,000 meritorious students and align them towards online preparations for Government jobs. The Foundation has named this initiative as “SAKSHAM UDAAN”.
Payal gives most of her time to the Foundation’s activities. Her passion and involvement has certainly strengthened the vision of M3M Foundation.
National
Big relief for Kunal Kamra as Bombay HC grants protection from arrest

Mumbai, April 25: In a major relief for stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, the Bombay High Court on Friday granted him protection from arrest in connection with an FIR lodged over his satirical video and his controversial “gaddar” (traitor) remark aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The court directed the Mumbai Police not to take any coercive action against Kamra, who is currently residing in Chennai.
The FIR had been filed following the circulation of a video in which Kamra allegedly mocked Shinde and referred to him as a “gaddar,” sparking outrage among the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) supporters.
While restraining the police from arresting the comedian, the court, however, allowed investigators to proceed with their inquiry.
It permitted the Mumbai Police to travel to Chennai to question Kamra, with the assistance of the local police.
The court said if the police file a charge sheet, the trial court should not proceed till the High Court decides the quashing petition filed by Kamra.
Kamra had filed a plea before the High Court seeking to quash the FIR filed against him.
Earlier on April 16, the High Court had granted him interim bail, which has now been made regular.
The FIR was filed at Khar police station following a complaint by Shiv Sena legislator Muraji Patel after Kamra, during a performance of his stand-up show Naya Bharat, allegedly referred to Shinde as a ‘gaddar’.
Kamra was initially granted interim anticipatory bail by the Madras High Court before he moved the Bombay High Court to seek quashing of the FIR and grant of regular bail.
The remark was purported as a reference to Shinde’s political defection from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena to join hands with the BJP, which led to a dramatic split in the party and the rise of a new ruling coalition MahaYuti.
Business
Demand for homes priced Rs 1 crore and above boosts market in India: Report

Mumbai, April 24: The demand for homes prices Rs 1 crore and above bolstered the Indian property market in the first quarter this year, preventing overall sales of 65,250 units from hard landing, a report said on Thursday.
Residential sales in Q1 2025 (January-March) experienced only a modest decline and added up to 65,246 units. This limited drop was primarily due to robust demand in the Rs 3-5 crore and Rs 1.5-3.0 crore segments, which helped counterbalance the slowdown in relatively affordable housing, according to a JLL report.
The steady growth in higher ticket size homes indicates increasing affluence among homebuyers, changing lifestyle preferences and buyers prioritising larger and premium properties.
According to the report, housing sales in India’s top seven cities continued to be dominated by Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Pune, which collectively accounted for 66 per cent of Q1 sales.
High concentration of MNCs and startups creating significant employment opportunities and ongoing infrastructure improvements make these cities increasingly attractive places to live and work.
It is interesting to note that over the last few quarters a significant share of quarterly sales volume has been contributed by projects launched during the same quarter.
Q1 2025 was no exception, with around one-fourth of its sales being contributed by quarterly new launches. Launches by reputed developers with assurance of timely delivery and steady price appreciation, are driving the trend, the report informed.
“The residential real estate market is showing signs of a shift in buyer preferences with lowering of demand for less than Rs 1 crore housing and a growing affinity for mid to high-end properties. This as well suggests a potential upward movement in the overall market dynamics,” said Dr Samantak Das, Chief Economist and Head of Research and REIS, India, JLL.
“This upswing in the higher-priced segment demand has shielded the overall housing sales from a sharper decline,” Das added.
Developers are focusing more on mid to high-end projects to align with current demand patterns. High-end housing sector experienced a steady upswing with 107 per cent year-on-year growth in launches of properties priced at Rs 1 crore and above, driven by strong sales in this segment.
Growth in launches despite economic uncertainties signals robust developer confidence in high-end housing demand, said the report, adding that 2025 is poised for robust growth in the residential sector demand.
Business
GreenLine flags off LNG truck fleet for Bekaert to drive sustainable logistics

Mumbai, April 24: GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd., an Essar venture and India’s only green logistics operator of LNG and electric-powered heavy commercial trucks, has partnered with Bekaert, a global leader in tire reinforcement technology, to decarbonise road logistics and support India’s vision of a gas-based economy.
The partnership was flagged off with the deployment of GreenLine’s LNG-powered trucks at Bekaert’s Ranjangaon Plant, marking the beginning of a pilot phase that aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of Bekaert’s logistics operations.
Each GreenLine LNG truck is expected to reduce up to 24 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, contributing to Bekaert’s ambition of becoming carbon net-zero by 2050 and achieving 65 per cent of sales from sustainable solutions.
Commenting on the partnership, Anand Mimani, CEO, GreenLine Mobility Solutions Ltd, said, “Our partnership with Bekaert demonstrates the growing commitment of forward-thinking corporates to drive sustainability at scale. At GreenLine, we are proud to offer not just green trucks, but an integrated ecosystem — from LNG refuelling to real-time telematics — that empowers our partners to make meaningful progress on their net-zero goals.”
Dinesh Mukhedkar, Procurement Operations Lead — South Asia and Procurement Global Shared Service Centre Lead, Bekaert, added, “As part of our purpose ‘Establishing the new possible,’ and our ambition to lead in safe, smart, and sustainable solutions, decarbonising logistics is an essential step. This directly supports our commitment to ESG principles and long-term sustainability goals.”
GreenLine’s expanding fleet of LNG-powered trucks has already clocked more than 40 million km, avoiding over 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The company’s ongoing expansion includes plans to deploy over 10,000 LNG and EV trucks, supported by a nationwide network of 100 LNG refuelling stations, EV charging hubs, and battery swapping facilities — targeting a reduction of 1 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
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