The National Housing Bank (NHB) data reveals that housing prices have risen by up to 10.5 per cent in 16 major cities of India in the April-June period, while only three towns have witnessed a marginal fall.    

Since 2007, NHB 'RESIDEX' tracks the movement in prices of residential properties on a quarterly basis. The NHB RESIDEX now covers 20 cities. Residential housing prices in 16 cities have shown rise in prices in this quarter ended June, 2012 over the previous quarter ended March, 2012, NHB said in a statement.    

The maximum increase in housing prices was observed in Pune (10.5 per cent) followed by Bengaluru (8.7 per cent), Patna (8.6 per cent), Ahmedabad (6.4 per cent) and Ludhiana (5.3 per cent).    

Housing prices rose by 4.1 per cent in Lucknow, while homes became costlier in Mumbai by 3.7 per cent, Delhi and Kolkatta by 2.6 per cent each, Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal and Chennai by 1.7 per cent each, Surat and Guwahati 1.2 per cent each, and Vijaywada and Kochi by 1.1 per cent each.    

However, housing prices declined in Jaipur by 2.6 per cent, Indore by 2.4 per cent and Hyderabad by one per cent, NHB said, adding that prices in Faridabad remained stable.    

NHB Chairman and Managing Director RV Verma told a leading news agency that housing prices are largely stable and there is no cause of worry. Verma said the prices have increased marginally in the 16 cities, which he attributed to local factors like improvement in infrastructure.