Niranjan Hiranandani Calls for Better City Planning and Skill Development at NAREDCO Real Estate Conclave
NAREDCO Conclave Emphasizes Government-Industry Collaboration on Urban Planning and Skills
The NAREDCO Real Estate Conclave 2026, held on 19 June 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, concluded with a strong industry-wide consensus on accelerating the adoption of Artificial Intelligence, sustainable construction practices, integrated urban governance, and large-scale skill development.
Hiranandani's Role and Message
Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani, who spearheads NAREDCO as Chairman, brought his decades of experience as Founder and Chairman of Hiranandani Group to address the gathering. Speaking at the conclave, Hiranandani stressed the need for stronger collaboration between government and industry to tackle India's pressing urban development and workforce challenges.
Hiranandani noted that India's real estate sector is entering a defining phase where infrastructure, technology and sustainability will determine the pace and quality of growth, and that these conclaves provide an important platform for collaboration between government, industry and innovators to create a more resilient, transparent and globally competitive real estate ecosystem aligned with the aspirations of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Construction Workforce Gap as a Central Challenge
The conclave's focus on large-scale skill development reflects a critical industry challenge. India is projected to require nearly 395,000 construction project professionals by 2035, according to recent analysis. More broadly, construction remains one of the largest sources of employment in the country, accounting for around 12–13% of the workforce, with 2023 estimates placing total employment at close to 70 million.
Over 80% of the workforce employed in construction is unskilled, and among the skilled, very few possess digital competencies essential for modern construction practices. This skills deficit directly impacts project execution and timelines, making structured workforce development a sector-wide imperative.
Industry analysts note that while India possesses a strong demographic advantage, a shortage of formally trained project managers, engineers and skilled technicians continues to constrain productivity and project delivery, with the challenge being not whether India can produce enough workers, but whether it can develop professionals equipped with the skills needed by modern infrastructure projects.
Industry and Policy Consensus
At the National Conclave, industry leaders and policymakers emphasised that Artificial Intelligence, modern construction technologies, sustainable materials and regulatory strengthening will be central to reshaping India's built environment.
As the country moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047, stronger collaboration between government and industry will be essential to create smart, green, inclusive and sustainable cities. India's real estate sector is expected to emerge as a multi-trillion-dollar industry over the coming decades, but achieving this potential will require enhanced investor confidence, stronger compliance and future-oriented planning.
Broader Conclave Focus Areas
The conclave featured a panel discussion on "Advancing Real Estate: New Construction Technologies and Emerging Trends in Real Estate", where experts examined how AI-driven tools, digital platforms and innovative construction methods are improving efficiency, transparency and project execution across the value chain.
A separate panel discussion titled "Gurugram 2.0: The Road to a World-Class City" underscored that while Gurugram has emerged as a major economic powerhouse, its next phase of growth must prioritise sustainability, water security, walkability, last-mile connectivity and integrated infrastructure planning.
Developer Context
Hiranandani Group, established in 1978, is a diversified conglomerate based in Mumbai with one of the largest real estate portfolios in India, with projects across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. As Founder and Chairman, Hiranandani is credited with redefining integrated township living in India through landmark developments such as Hiranandani Gardens, Powai. His leadership at NAREDCO positions him to articulate the sector's collective interests to policymakers and frame the infrastructure and human capital challenges that constrain growth across the industry.