Shimla, Dec 9: The Himachal Pradesh government has notified a new Tourism Investment Promotion Council to fast-track approvals for tourism projects worth over ₹50 crore, introducing strict timelines and an online clearance system to end years of bureaucratic delays.
The council, notified by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, will act as a single high-level platform to speed up permissions—especially those involving Section 118 of the Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, a key requirement for land purchase by non-agriculturists.
Officials said the new framework aims to reverse a pattern where investors abandoned or indefinitely stalled proposals due to procedural hurdles. “We are committed to creating a more predictable and investor-friendly environment,” a senior official said.
Under the revised system, all applications seeking Section 118 approvals must be filed through the Himachal Pradesh Revenue Department portal. The department must issue approvals within 14 working days of submission, and if deficiencies are found, applicants must be informed within five days.
For non-statutory clearances, concerned agencies must issue approvals within 14 working days after raising one-time observations. Statutory approvals will follow the same deadline, with project proponents getting 10 days to address flagged issues.
The council will meet at least once a month to ensure that clearances do not pile up. It will be chaired by the Chief Minister, with the Tourism Minister as vice-chairman, and include the Chief Secretary and secretaries from key departments such as finance, industries, public works, revenue, forests, urban development and town planning.
Officials said the council is designed to bring transparency, accountability and sustainability into large tourism investments. By enforcing tight timelines and coordinated oversight, the government expects to attract high-value, environmentally responsible tourism projects and boost long-term economic growth.
