Haryana Takes Giant Leap in Ease of Doing Business, Departments Implement Compliance Reforms on Chief Secretary’s Directions

Haryana Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi chaired a high-level meeting on compliance reduction and deregulation. In a move aimed at transforming Haryana into one of India’s most business-friendly states, it was informed in the meeting that all key departments have taken major reform decisions.

The Town and Country Planning Department has decided to introduce a ‘negative list’ for mixed land use, where all activities will be permitted except those specifically prohibited. The department will soon notify provisions allowing industrial housing within industrial plots to provide on-site accommodation for workers. The department has also decided to implement an auto Change of Land Use (CLU) approval system for industries in conforming zones, enabling instant online permission through a self-certification process by December 31, 2025. Parallel notifications for auto CLU in municipal areas will be issued by the Urban Local Bodies Department.

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To promote small-scale industries, the department will reduce the minimum road width requirement for village link roads to 6 feet, facilitating MSME development in rural areas. Documentation for CLU will also be reduced from 19 to 5 essential documents, with further simplification to follow after studying best practices from other states.

Building Regulation and Land Utilization Reforms

In accordance with the Chief Secretary’s guidance, the Town and Country Planning Department will remove the maximum cap on ground coverage for both industrial and commercial plots. The department will issue new norms within two days, allowing developers to fully utilize zoned land while maintaining essential planning parameters. Revised setback norms will also be notified to minimize land wastage and reduce construction costs.

Labour Department Decisions Empowering Workers and Industry

The Labour Department will place critical reforms before the Cabinet. These include amendments to allow women to work in all industries, including those previously listed as hazardous, excluding pregnant and lactating mothers. The department will introduce night-shift employment for women in shops and establishments under the new Act, subject to safety conditions such as CCTV coverage, transport facilities, and separate restrooms. The compliance threshold under the Shops and Establishments Act will be raised from zero to 20 workers, reducing paperwork for small units. Factory license renewal will continue under the auto-renewal system, and registration under the Shops and Establishment Act will become instant upon online application.

Pollution Control Simplification Measures

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board will adopt third-party certification for Consent to Operate (CTO) for green category industries. The validity of CTOs will be extended up to 15 years, and renewal will be done through third-party inspections. The Board will also reduce approval timelines for Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from 30 to 21 working days and implement self-certification for green category industries. A rationalized, investment-linked fee structure based on MSME classification will be introduced.

Utilities and Digital Infrastructure Integration

Departments providing utility services have decided to fully integrate their applications with the Invest Haryana Single Window System. Entrepreneurs will now be able to obtain electricity, water, and groundwater permissions through one digital platform. The Haryana Water Resources Authority has completed service integration, and service timelines will be notified under the Haryana Right to Service Act. HSIIDC has linked its land bank with the national portal for real-time updates and committed to expanding plug-and-play industrial facilities statewide

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Fire Safety and Building Permit Reforms

The Fire and Emergency Services Department will implement third-party certification for fire safety inspections and empanel qualified agencies by October 30, 2025. Validity of Fire NOCs will be extended to reduce compliance burden. The Town and Country Planning Department will reduce documents for Occupation Certificates to five essential items and extend third-party certification to high-risk buildings to ensure faster approvals without compromising safety.

Haryana Jan Vishwas Bill for Decriminalization of Minor Offences

Following the Chief Secretary’s directions, all departments will submit their proposals for decriminalization of minor offences, as part of the upcoming Haryana Jan Vishwas Bill, 2025. The Bill will replace criminal penalties for procedural violations with civil penalties and administrative actions, aligning with the national decriminalization frameworHk.