In this episode of The CODE – India’s No.1 Construction Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Adv. Harshul Savla – Real Estate Developer, World Record Holder, Author, and one of India’s most decorated thought leaders in the property sector.
Dr. Savla is the Managing Partner of M Realty (Suvidha Lifespaces), which has successfully delivered over 2 million sq. ft. of development across Mumbai City in the last 30 years. He holds a Ph.D. on REITs from the University of Mumbai and is pursuing a second Ph.D. on RERA from the Department of Law, University of Mumbai. With degrees spanning MBA from JBIMS, LL.B from Government Law College, and LL.M in Environmental Studies, his academic depth matches his industry experience.
He also holds the World Record for “Maximum Books Authored on Real Estate Sector”—18 published works, many of which are Amazon Bestsellers. Recognized as a “Young Thought Leader” more than 25 times by CRISIL India, Economic Times, CNBC TV18, ET Now and others, Dr. Savla brings unmatched insight into India’s real estate landscape. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of Statistics and Research at CREDAI India & CREDAI MCHI, and Chairman of Business Process Automation at CREDAI National Youth Wing.
If you’re an architect, civil engineer, developer, investor, or just curious about India’s property market, this episode will give you both clarity and controversy.
Timestamps:
0:00 - How has research shaped the way you do business?
01:36 - REITs in India: Do you think REITs will truly democratize real estate investments in India, or will they remain limited to big institutional players?
03:19 - On RERA: You’re pursuing your second Ph.D. on RERA. Do you think RERA has genuinely protected homebuyers, or has it ended up burdening developers with red tape?
04:40- RERA is like "Sharma ji ka beta"
06:28: RERA is certifying the project, not the developer
07:04 : Does marketing the project as "RERA approved" really make it a safe investment?
08:44 We need to have synchronization between local authorities and RERA
10:19 Books & Records: You hold the world record for maximum books authored in real estate. Which book do you think changed the industry narrative the most, and why?
12:26 Data & Research: As Chairman of Statistics and Research at CREDAI, what trend do you think is most under-discussed in Indian real estate right now?
14:33 Trust depletes when scams like those that Dholera happen
16:39 Developers’ Reputation: Many people still equate developers with delays, cost escalations, and false promises. As a developer yourself, do you think this reputation is earned—or unfair?
17:29 EODB (Ease of Doing Business) and Single window approval is just a term and not real in India
18:45 Affordable Housing: Governments keep promising “Housing for All” by 2022, 2024, 2026… Why do you think India is still struggling to deliver true affordable housing?19:00 An interesting analogy why affordable housing is a dream and not reality in India
21:01 Investor vs. End-User: Is Indian real estate still more about speculation than actual housing demand? Are we building homes to live in, or to flip?
22:21 RERA Reality Check: If you had the power to rewrite RERA today, what’s the first clause you would remove—or add?
22:42 Young Thought Leader Awards: You’ve been awarded as a “Young Thought Leader” 25 times by big corporations. Some critics say these awards are more about networking and PR than actual contribution. What’s your take?
24:59 The Future of Developers: With tech disruption, AI, and fractional ownership platforms—do you think the traditional role of the “big developer” is slowly dying?26:05 FUN Segment
28:15 Quick things to write a book in 30 days
30:06 If I gave you ₹100 crore to invest today—where in India would you buy land?