Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chaired a high-level meeting of Digital Technologies and Governance Department here today. He said that the government was planning to establish a Cyber City to be spread over 650 bighas of land at Waknaghat in Solan district from where data storage, artificial intelligence (AI), and other IT-based enterprises would operate. He directed the department to finalize the detailed blueprint of the project at the earliest. Highlighting the IT sector as a priority area, Sh. Sukhu said the government was taking concrete measures to promote technological advancement and attract investment in IT infrastructure across the state.
Reviewing the ongoing construction of the Centre of Excellence at Waknaghat, the Chief Minister directed that the work to be expedited and an AI lab to be established within the Centre. He also instructed for early completion of IT Parks at Chaitaru in Kangra and Mehli in Shimla by December 2025.
Underlining the importance of digital transformation in governance the Chief Minister stated that all the departments must digitize their operations to ensure efficient and citizen-friendly service delivery. “The state government aims to provide maximum public services at the door step of the people through a single click,” he said, adding that every department should fully adopt IT solutions and work through the e-Office system to enhance transparency and efficiency.
He further directed for organizing workshops to familiarize government officials with e-file management and emerging technologies, encouraging their widespread use across the departments. The Chief Minister also instructed that nodal officers be appointed in every department to facilitate the monitoring of online progress of his announcements, and directed that all officers of the Secretariat must mandatorily record their attendance.
Principal Advisor (IT and Innovations) to the Chief Minister Gokul Butail, Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, Secretary (IT) Ashish Singhmar, Director (IT) Dr. Nipun Jindal, Labour and Employment Commissioner Virender Sharma were present in the meeting amongst others.
--00--