The Himachal Pradesh government has taken a major step toward developing the new city ‘Him Chandigarh.’ In a meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee held at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, concerned departments were instructed to complete all required formalities within 30 days so that construction work on the new city can begin at the earliest.
The meeting also included detailed discussions on reducing the growing population pressure and traffic congestion in Shimla city and the Baddi–Barotiwala region.
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi stated that around 3,400 bighas of land have already been transferred to HIMUDA for the development of Him Chandigarh. All departments have now been directed to complete necessary procedures in a time-bound manner to ensure there is no delay in the project.
Considering the increasing congestion and traffic problems in Shimla, the Cabinet Sub-Committee took several important decisions:
- Twelve major grain traders will be shifted out of the city
- The timber market at Lakkar Bazaar and mechanical workshops will also be relocated outside the city
- Around 200 shopkeepers near the vegetable market will be provided modern shops in a newly constructed building
The Shimla Deputy Commissioner has already identified suitable locations for these relocations, which will be finalized after inspections by officials from the concerned departments.
The Revenue Minister also informed that disputes related to certain parking projects developed under the PPP model in Shimla—such as at Tutikandi, Sanjauli, and Lift Parking—are currently under consideration in the High Court. The government is seeking legal advice and has directed officials to work toward resolving these issues.
Jagat Singh Negi emphasized that the government’s objective is to reduce pressure on overcrowded cities like Shimla and promote planned urban development. Him Chandigarh will be a key project in this direction, enabling the expansion of administrative and residential facilities.
It may be noted that a cabinet sub-committee was recently set up for exploring the possibilities of developing a township and its report was accepted by the cabinet.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had said the proposed world-class township to be built at Shitalpur in the Baddi area of Solan district on the border of Chandigarh and the state would be named Him-Chandigarh.
“A cabinet sub-committee was set up for exploring the possibilities of developing a township and its report was accepted by the cabinet,” Sukhu said. He added, “Three panchayats are willing to give land for the township through land pooling and the cabinet had already approved the transfer of 3,400 bigha land to the housing department. More land would be acquired in the next six months and consultants would be appointed soon to ensure world-class amenities in the town.”
In fact, after the cabinet meeting, Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan had said that more private or forest land would be acquired for the township project near Chandigarh, which would have world-class amenities.
