Haryana Cabinet sets age limits for tourist vehicles, clears unified Municipal Bill for 2025
Chandigarh, Dec 8
The Haryana Cabinet, presided over by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini here on Monday, accorded approval to fix the age of tourist vehicles for operation under the Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993.
These rules may be called the Haryana Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2025. As per the amendment, vehicles operating with all-India tourist permits in the NCR region will be allowed to operate for 12 years if they run on petrol or CNG, whereas diesel vehicles under this permit category will be permitted for a maximum of 10 years.
For non-NCR areas, all-India tourist permit vehicles running on petrol or CNG and diesel will also have a maximum operational age of 12 years.
For all other permits, including stage carriage, contract carriage, goods carriage and school buses in the NCR region, their maximum permissible vehicle age has been fixed at 15 years for vehicles operating on petrol, CNG, electric or other clean fuels.
However, for diesel vehicles operating under these permit types, the maximum age has been fixed at 10 years only in the NCR region.
For non-NCR areas, all other permits, including stage carriage, contract carriage, goods carriage and school buses running on petrol, CNG, electric or other clean fuels and diesel will have a maximum operational age of 15 years.
The Cabinet also approved a major reform in urban governance by introducing the Haryana Municipal Bill, 2025, aimed at replacing the existing Haryana Municipal Act, 1973, and the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994.
The new unified Act has been drafted to bring all categories of municipalities -- municipal corporations, municipal councils and municipal committees -- under a single legal framework.
At present, 87 municipalities function under two separate Acts, causing administrative complexities, inconsistent service delivery and challenges in interpretation of rules, an official statement said.
The department has undertaken extensive consultations over the past two years to prepare the draft legislation, incorporating relevant provisions from the Model Municipal Law circulated by the government of India.
The Haryana Municipal Bill, 2025, aims to streamline governance, remove ambiguities, modernize municipal administration and strengthen financial autonomy of urban local bodies.
Key provisions include empowering municipalities to determine taxes and fees between minimum and maximum government-fixed rates and provisions for credit rating to facilitate market borrowings, etc.
The Act also introduces provisions for urban transport planning, urban forestry, and the prohibition of illegal colonies similar to the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975.
For municipal staff, the Act proposes common service rules to reduce litigation arising from transfers and promotions under separate legal frameworks. Additionally, a provision has been made for the appointment of a municipal magistrate for the trial of municipal offences, and penalties or fines for various violations have been enhanced. The initiative marks a significant step towards establishing a modern, uniform and efficient municipal governance system across Haryana, aligned with current and future needs of urbanisation.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally! A single Municipal Act for the whole state. Having different laws for corporations and councils was so confusing and led to so much inefficiency. Streamlining should hopefully mean better garbage collection and water supply for us residents.
As someone from a non-NCR town in Haryana, I appreciate that the vehicle age limit is the same (15 years) for most permits here. It would have been unfair to impose stricter NCR rules on us where pollution levels are different. Practical decision.
The financial autonomy part for municipalities is crucial. If local bodies can raise their own funds through taxes and market borrowings based on credit rating, they might actually get things done without waiting for state grants all the time. A modern approach.
While the intent is good, I'm a bit concerned about the cost. Replacing tourist buses and school vans every 10-12 years is expensive. Will there be subsidies or easier loans for operators? Otherwise, fares will go up for common people.
Provisions for urban forestry and against illegal colonies in the new Municipal Bill are much needed. Our cities need more green cover and planned development, not haphazard growth. Hope it's implemented properly on the ground.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.