CHANDIGARH, June 2 — In a bid to generate revenue and curb misuse of services, the cash-strapped Municipal Corporation (MC) has proposed a steep hike in standby fire tender service charges for private functions — increasing them tenfold in certain categories.
According to the proposal, which will be tabled at the general house meeting on June 3, the MC seeks to charge ₹5,000 per fire tender for five hours, subject to a minimum ₹25,000 fee plus GST for “high value” events in Chandigarh. For other functions, the charge will be ₹3,000 per hour per vehicle. Currently, the MC charges only ₹579 per hour per vehicle within the city.
For events outside Chandigarh, the new proposed rate is ₹7,500 per hour per vehicle, with a minimum of ₹37,500.
An annual 10% increase in charges has also been suggested starting April 1 every year.
The MC said the rising fuel prices and increased fire staff salaries under the 7th Pay Commission warranted the revision. The standby service involves deploying high-cost fire tenders—each worth ₹60 lakh to ₹1 crore—along with trained personnel and equipment at private events, fairs, or live shows.
In another key proposal, the MC has recommended forfeiting fire safety certificate fees if applicants fail to complete required safety formalities within six months. The move targets building owners who abandon the process after application, leaving safety issues unaddressed.
The application will be automatically cancelled after six months, and a fresh application with full fee will be required. The new rules will come into force after an upgrade of the online portal and a public notice.
