Shimla, Feb. 19 -- Facing mounting fiscal pressure after the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) recommended by the 16th Finance Commission, the Himachal Pradesh government has stepped up internal resource mobilisation through reforms in excise, liquor vends, toll collection and revised entry fee structures for vehicles entering the state.

The Department of State Taxes and Excise has notified the Toll Policy 2026-27 for the financial year April 1 to March 31, 2027, under which toll barriers will be leased through a transparent e-auction mechanism with fixed reserve prices.

The policy mandates electronic toll collection, CCTV monitoring and phased FASTag implementation to curb leakages and improve compliance while ensuring...