Shimla: Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani today here said that the state government was committed to become a green energy state and to realize this decisive legislative updates has been integrated for sustainable infrastructure into urban development.
He said that under the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning (17th Amendment) Rules, 2026, the government has mandated the installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in all commercial, public, semi-public buildings and real estate projects. He said that this move have been aligned with Model Building Bye-Laws, which ensures state’s physical infrastructure evolves in tandem with the rising adoption of electric mobility.
Rajesh Dharmani said that to further incentivize energy efficiency, the state government has strictly implemented the HP Energy Conservation Building Code (HPECBC) and Rules 2018. Under these regulations, specialized buildings including hospitality, healthcare, educational and shopping complexes covering an area of 750 square meters or more would be granted an additional 0.25 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) over the base FAR of 1.75, provided they comply with ECBC standards. To ensure compliance, developers must now engage Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) authorized Energy Auditors to vet project designs and oversee construction phases before municipal authorities issue occupancy certificates.
Addressing the economic framework of urban expansion, Sh Dharmani detailed the 18th Amendment Rules, 2026, which establish a structured fee for Premium FAR in real estate projects. The newly defined rates range from Rs. 3000 per square meter for up to 0.25 premium FAR, scaling to Rs. 7000 for ratios exceeding 0.50. While these charges do not apply to previously completed projects with existing certificates, they would be mandatory for new blocks in ongoing developments and all upcoming real estate ventures, offering developers the flexibility to purchase additional FAR during the initial planning stages.
