NAREDCO Mahi Pitches Women-Led Growth in Realty, Infra for $1 Trillion Sector Vision

New Delhi, June 18, 2025: In a strong push to recognise women’s growing role in infrastructure and real estate development, NAREDCO Mahi, the women’s wing of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), convened a focused media interaction in the national capital today.

While the session also served as a curtain raiser to the fourth NAREDCO Mahi Convention, scheduled for June 27, it focused sharply on the growing momentum of women-led development and the need to bring more women into India’s urban transformation story with the Viksit Bharat vision for 2047.

Speakers pointed out that the real estate sector, valued at over $265 billion, is projected to touch $1 trillion by the end of this decade, contributing nearly 13 per cent to the GDP. Despite this high-growth potential, women still form only around 11-12 per cent of the sector’s workforce.

However, change is under way. From project planning and design to compliance, construction supervision and investment management, women are increasingly involved in every layer of the real estate value chain.

Smita Patil, President, NAREDCO Mahi, said that the organisation is actively engaging with stakeholders to create inclusive pathways for women in the sector. She stated that beyond boardroom conversations, NAREDCO Mahi has been working on ground-led interventions around skilling and training for young women, climate-sensitive construction practices, sanitation and safety measures at construction sites, water conservation models at realty projects and solid waste management frameworks for developers.

She said that NAREDCO Mahi’s outreach has extended to tier 2 and 3 cities, where women are increasingly visible in marketing, legal, project finance and client relations roles—areas once perceived as inaccessible to them.

She added that the upcoming NAREDCO Mahi Convention will feature powerful narratives and real-world experiences of women transforming the real estate sector. One of the most anticipated segments will be a special session showcasing father-daughter duos who have broken generational stereotypes to shape modern realty leadership in India.

The convention will also feature ‘Recognition of Mahi Sheroes,’ policy masterclasses, and a sectoral discussion on wellness living and sustainable housing, an area witnessing a compound annual growth rate of over 16 per cent and emerging as one of the most sought-after trends in post-pandemic urban development.

Ananta Singh Raghuvanshi, Chairperson, NAREDCO Mahi, said that the convention will be a leadership statement as much as an industry platform. She said that women bring empathy, precision and people-centric innovation to how real estate is built and sold. Through focused initiatives in skilling, financial literacy, digital transformation and sustainability, NAREDCO Mahi is working to increase women’s presence at all stages of the real estate journey from conceptualisation to delivery.

G Hari Babu, National President, NAREDCO, said that India’s journey to becoming one of the world’s top three economies cannot exclude the participation of half its population.

He said that women are no longer merely participants—they are project heads, entrepreneurs, investors and reformers who bring strategic vision and social awareness to infrastructure and housing development. He added that from working in cooperative movements post-independence to taking boardroom roles today, Indian women have consistently shown leadership in the face of challenges.

The session highlighted that over 20 per cent of registered architects are women, increasingly taking the lead in urban planning, heritage conservation and sustainable design practices. In tier 1 cities, nearly 15 per cent of real estate brokerage and advisory firms are now women-led, a significant rise compared to a decade ago.

While women make up around 10 per cent of the construction workforce in finishing and supervisory roles, there is a steady uptick in the number of women entering skilled positions, including site engineering and material management, especially through formal skilling programmes and digital certifications.

The allied sectors of interior design, legal real estate compliance, ESG advisory, green certification and digital realty platforms are seeing over 35-40 per cent female participation, particularly in metros and upcoming urban clusters.

“Women leaders today are not just transforming real estate. They are redefining the business of building India. As developers, strategists, financiers and policymakers, they bring sharp commercial acumen and enduring vision that is reshaping our urban economy. Empowering women in leadership roles is no longer a social conversation; it’s a strategic business decision,” said Niranjan Hiranandani, Chairman, NAREDCO.

“Their ability to balance risk, drive innovation and lead with resilience is unlocking new opportunities across the value chain—from housing finance and construction technology to urban planning and sustainability.”

Harsh Vardhan Bansal, President, NAREDCO Delhi, said that with more than 30 per cent of start-ups being led by women, the real estate sector must catch up with the country’s broader shift towards gender-balanced growth.

He added that qualities like multitasking, emotional intelligence and long-term vision, often overlooked in infra projects, are being brought to the forefront by women professionals who are reshaping not just homes but also communities.

“The soft power of women can be a game-changer in how India thinks about liveability, affordability and sustainable development in the years ahead.”

The convention is expected to bring together policy leaders, developers, real estate strategists, financial institutions, academics and social change agents to discuss how women can play a central role in India’s infrastructure journey.