Telangana Cool Roof Policy 2023 to 2028: What It Means for Builders and Developers

If you build in Hyderabad, you’ve probably heard colleagues say that cool roofs are “becoming mandatory”. That’s partly true and partly shorthand, and the difference matters when you’re pricing a project. The Telangana cool roof policy is one of the first state-level frameworks in India to tie roof performance to the building approval process. Panache Green has followed it closely, and this note sets out what developers should plan for.

What the Policy Is

Telangana’s Cool Roof Policy was launched in April 2023 and runs until March 2028, with annual targets extending into 2028-29. The state aims to bring about 300 square kilometres of roof area under cool roof treatment, with roughly 200 sq km in Hyderabad and the rest across other towns. It is the core of the Telangana cool roof initiative, designed to reduce urban heat, cut cooling demand and ease peak power load.
Hyderabad is a sensible starting point. Rapid construction, dense housing and hot summers produce a pronounced urban heat island, and rooftops make up a large share of exposed surface.

Who It Applies To

The cool roof regulations Telangana has introduced work in two layers.

• Mandatory segment: new residential buildings on plots of about 600 square yards and above, plus certain larger commercial, institutional and government buildings, are expected to adopt cool roofs.
• Encouraged segment: smaller buildings and existing structures are encouraged, with awareness drives and, in some cases, incentives.

Compliance is linked to the building permission and occupancy certificate process. Rules and notifications get updated, so confirm the current wording with the municipal authority or your architect before finalising a design.

What Counts as a Cool Roof

The policy recognises several ways of meeting the requirement:

• Reflective coatings and paints with tested solar reflectance and emittance.
• Cool tiles and reflective membranes.
• Other approved measures that achieve equivalent heat reduction.

In simple terms, cool roofs for buildings here means a surface with high solar reflectance and high emittance, usually expressed as SRI. The state’s policy paper reports indoor temperature reductions in the range of roughly 2.1 to 4.3°C, which is a conservative, building-wide figure. Panache Green’s own project data show larger reductions on exposed top floors, around 4 to 8°C, because top-floor and metal-roof cases respond more strongly.

Cost and Payback for Developers

Reported coating costs are modest compared with the overall construction budget, and public discussion around the policy has quoted figures near Rs 300 per square metre for basic treatment. Actual cost depends on system choice, substrate and area. For a developer, the questions are practical:

1. Which system meets the policy’s reflectance requirement and is documented?
2. Does it include waterproofing so the roof does not need a second layer?
3. Can the contractor supply test reports for the occupancy certificate?
4. What is the maintenance plan for aged reflectance?

Add the benefit side: lower cooling load for occupants, a stronger green-building story and, increasingly, a sales advantage in a buyer market that cares about running costs.

Why This Supports Energy-Efficient Construction

In the wider field of energy-efficient construction Telangana now offers a useful benchmark. A cool roof is one of the simplest envelope measures to document, and it works alongside insulation, shading and efficient HVAC. Panache Green’s CIS Roofing System pairs reflective coatings with InsulMix Roof Screed on RCC roofs, which lowers the assembly’s U-value as well.

What Developers Should Do Now

• Add cool roof specifications to tender documents, with minimum reflectance and emittance values.
• Ask suppliers for aged-value data and independent test reports.
• Plan roof layout so equipment, solar panels and drainage don’t compromise coverage.
• Keep thermal images and documentation for each project.

A Word on Timing

The policy period is long enough that early movers get a real advantage. Developers who standardise their roof specification now avoid scrambling at the occupancy certificate stage, and they build a reference portfolio that buyers and lenders can see.

How Panache Green Can Help

Panache Green is a founding member of the CRRC wall rating programme from India and has contributed to cool roof policy discussions in several states. We can help with product selection, documentation and measured verification, so your Telangana cool roof policy compliance file is complete at handover.

FAQs

Is the Telangana cool roof policy mandatory for every building?

For specified new buildings, such as larger residential plots, yes. Others are encouraged. Check the latest government order.

Does it apply to existing buildings?

Mostly encouraged rather than mandatory, though local drives and incentives may apply.

What documents are needed?

Typically test reports for reflectance and emittance and a declaration at occupancy certificate stage.

Can a coating also waterproof the roof?

Some systems do. Panache Green offers integrated options.

Does the policy cover other states?

No. Other states, like Tamil Nadu and Odisha, have separate approaches.