The Uttarakhand Housing Department is set to amend the state’s building bylaws to strike a balance between environmental sustainability and urban development. The move aims to facilitate future construction that maximises tourism potential while promoting green building practices.

Following the examples of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, the state government is preparing a new green building policy to be presented to the cabinet. The policy may include reserving 10 per cent to 20 per cent of all residential and non-commercial plots as green areas, in line with recommendations from the Central government. Initiatives such as rooftop gardens and vertical gardens will also be encouraged.

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The amendments aim to simplify and speed up the construction process, attract investment, and ensure optimal utilisation of urban land. Key measures include full digitisation of building permissions, plan approvals, and licensing, along with the introduction of an auto-approval system for small and mid-sized projects.

The new bylaws may also offer flexibility in building height and density regulations and promote mixed-use development, allowing higher activity and investment even on small plots.

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Green building standards will be made mandatory, with a simplified certification process, and incentives will be provided for adopting solar panels and renewable energy. The changes reflect the state’s focus on creating sustainable, investment-friendly, and tourism-oriented urban spaces.