Building a house or commercial property in Himachal Pradesh has become more expensive as the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department and municipal corporations have implemented a steep hike in fees for passing construction maps.
The new rates, made official in a recent notification, reveal hike of up to five times the previous charges, depending on the property location and purpose. However, a notable relief remains for economically weaker sections, with no fees required to pass maps for residences up to 100 square metres.
New rates for residential, commercial maps
According to the TCP notification, fees for residential buildings on four biswa land have jumped from the earlier rate of INR 5,000 to a range between Rs 15,000 and Rs 16,000. Similarly, for commercial ventures such as hotels, map fees have more than doubled, making it a much costlier endeavour for aspiring business owners.
In municipal areas under the municipal corporation, the fee for residential building maps has increased to Rs 40 per square metre of built-up area, compared to the previous Rs 8. For commercial projects, the charge has been set at Rs 80 per square meter, up from Rs 10.
TCP (Planning and Special Area) regions have also seen notable increases. The new rate for residential construction is Rs 30 per square metre of built-up area, up from Rs 5, while for commercial projects, the fee now stands at Rs 60 per square metre, a substantial rise from the previous Rs 8.
New charges for essential certificates
Additionally, for the first time, industrialists and commercial developers will be required to pay for obtaining an Essential Certificate (EC), a document previously provided free of charge. The EC is mandatory for anyone intending to undertake industrial or commercial activities.
Minister Dharmani justifies hike
TCP Minister Rajesh Dharmani confirmed the fee revisions, explaining that the increase reflects the current economic climate and the need to generate funds for urban development. While the revisions may be challenging for builders, the government maintains that the hikes were necessary to improve urban infrastructure.
The updated fees have drawn mixed reactions from the public and industry, with some expressing concern about the affordability of home ownership, while others recognise the need for development funding.
