The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is planning to amend its building bylaws to make the installation of solar panels mandatory for all plotted residential properties. According to the proposed rules, plots of 100 sq m or larger will be required to generate a minimum of 1kW of solar power. Earlier this month, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) also updated its solar panel installation guidelines, mandating that all residential properties with a plot size of 100 sq m or more install rooftop solar panels under the PM Surya Ghar scheme. A GDA official stated that once the new rules are implemented, building map approvals will be contingent upon provisions for solar panels. Additionally, no completion certificate will be granted if the provisions are not made. The GDA has instructed the town planner to draft a proposal, which will be presented at the next board meeting. Officials mentioned that this initiative aligns with the state government's goal to transform Ghaziabad into a 'solar city' and to ensure that more than 10 per cent of the city's electricity requirements are met by solar power by 2027. The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA), which is working to develop Ghaziabad as one of the 18 solar cities in the state, recently assessed the city's rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) potential across different sectors—residential, commercial, government, industrial, and educational. The assessment revealed that Ghaziabad has the potential to generate approximately 2,858 MW of solar energy. UPNEDA's director, Anupam Shukla, had earlier informed TOI that around 2,014 MW of power could be generated from solar panels installed on residential rooftops alone. The study also estimated that 616 MW could be derived from industrial rooftops, 107 MW from commercial buildings, 73 MW from educational institutions, 35 MW from government offices, and 14 MW from healthcare facilities. Officials pointed out that solar energy is at least 30 per cent cheaper than conventional energy sources, with both state and central governments offering subsidies and technical support for solar panel installation. For residential areas, the central government provides a subsidy of Rs 14,588 per kilowatt for solar rooftop installation. The subsidy is reduced to Rs 7,294 per kilowatt for consumption beyond 3kW. Additionally, the state government offers a subsidy of Rs 15,000 per kilowatt, with a maximum subsidy of Rs 30,000 per kilowatt. For a three- or four-bedroom flat, the estimated cost of installing solar panels is around Rs 2 lakh. Furthermore, the concept of net metering allows excess or unused solar energy to be transferred to the main grid, with the amount subsidized during billing.