SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government has mandated the installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in commercial, public, semi-public buildings, and real estate projects, as per the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning (17th Amendment) Rules, 2026, officials announced on Tuesday.
This initiative aligns with model building bye-laws aimed at advancing the state’s physical infrastructure in line with the growing adoption of electric mobility, stated Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani.
The Himachal Pradesh government is dedicated to becoming a green energy state. To achieve this, significant legislative updates have been integrated into urban development for sustainable infrastructure, added the minister.
Dharmani emphasized that to promote energy efficiency further, the state has strictly enforced the HP Energy Conservation Building Code (HPECBC) and Rules 2018.
Under these regulations, specialized buildings such as those in hospitality, healthcare, education, and shopping complexes that exceed 750 square meters will receive an additional 0.25 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) on top of the base FAR of 1.75, provided they meet energy conservation building code (ECBC) standards.
To ensure adherence, developers must engage Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) authorized Energy Auditors to review project designs and oversee construction processes before occupancy certificates can be issued by municipal authorities.
Discussing the urban expansion’s economic implications, Dharmani introduced the 18th Amendment Rules, 2026, which establish a structured fee for Premium FAR in real estate projects.
The new fee structure starts at Rs 3,000 per square meter for up to 0.25 premium FAR and rises to Rs 7,000 for ratios exceeding 0.50. These charges do not affect previously completed projects with existing certificates; however, they will be compulsory for new blocks in ongoing developments and all upcoming real estate ventures, granting developers the option to purchase additional FAR during the initial planning phase, as per the statement.
