Himachal Pradesh Government

Providing quality technical education to student main focus: CM
Expresses concern over vacant buildings, directs for optimum use

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said that providing quality technical education to the students within the State was the focus of the present state government so as to equip them with market relevant skills that enhance employability.

While reviewing the functioning of the Technical Education department here today, the Chief Minister expressed concern over the vacant buildings and said that seven buildings constructed at a cost of Rs. 126.45 crore between the year 2018 to 2023 were lying vacant. He directed the department to formulate an action plan for the optimum utilization of these buildings in public interest. He said that wastage of public funds in the name of mere construction was not acceptable.

Sh. Sukhu instructed the department to grade the Industrial Training Institutes and Polytechnic Colleges as per the enrolment of the students, overall performance and other facilities available in these institutions. The state government was committed to strengthen the Technical Education department to provide quality education to the students. He said that the government would fill up the vacant posts in the technical education institutions and also extend all possible assistance to these institutions.

He also stressed on introducing new age courses in the technical education institutions to ensure that youths were trained for emerging employment sectors. He expressed happiness over the introduction of M. Tech (EV-Tech) course in Hydro Engineering College, Bandla in Bilaspur district with an intake of 30 students.

The Chief Minister said that the state government was promoting innovation in the state and 'State Innovation and Start-Up Policy-2025' was underway to encourage entrepreneurship. The government was also contemplating to establish a Digital University of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Skill and Vocational Studies at Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district for which 258 bighas of land had been identified.

He also reviewed the functioning of Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam and Himachal Pradesh Takniki Shiksha Board and issued necessary directions for bringing improvements in their functioning.

Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, State Convenor of Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam Atul Karohta, Special Secretary, Technical Education Suneel Sharma, Director, Technical Education Akshay Sood and other senior officers of the Department were present in the meeting.

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Chief Minister flags off 66 patrol vehicles for ten districts
Major campaign against drug abuse will be launched across state: CM

State-of-the-art Road Safety Control and Command Center to be established in Hamirpur

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today flagged-off 66 patrol vehicles from here today. These vehicles are being deployed at various police stations in 10 districts of the state including Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur, Kullu, Sirmaur, Solan and Chamba. Purchased at a cost of Rs. 18.42 crore, these vehicles include 35 electric vehicles, 14 interceptor vehicles, 10 wrecker vehicles and 7 WD diesel vehicles.

Speaking on this occasion, the Chief Minister stated that the state government's objective was not only to reduce road accidents but also to develop a safe and disaster-resilient transport system. He added that road accidents had consistently declined over the past three years in the state.

He remarked that this positive change was possible only through the joint efforts of the police, transport department, public works department, Himachal Pradesh Road and Infrastructure Development Corporation, health department and other related agencies. He added that the deployment of wrecker vehicles would help restore normal traffic on the roads by promptly removing vehicles after accidents.

Sh. Sukhu stated that the government would soon establish a state-of-the-art road safety control and command center in Hamirpur at a cost of approximately Rs. 30 crore as part of the integrated road safety enforcement system, which would be connected to modern cameras being installed across the state. The police department would use this system for e-challans, traffic monitoring and ensuring discipline and safety on the roads. This center would not only strengthen road safety but would also help generate additional revenue for the state.

The Chief Minister stated that numerous road safety improvements were being made in the state under the Himachal Pradesh State Road Transformation Project. Approximately Rs. 60 crore were being spent to purchase 3,373 road safety enforcement devices for the police department under the project which would be distributed in 10 districts to further strengthen the road safety.

"The police department will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to make Himachal Pradesh Police number one in the country. As many as 1,200 constables have been recruited in the police department and after eight years, the state government is conducting the B-1 test for police promotions. The department is doing commendable work to curb the drug menace across the state and is launching a major campaign against it" said the Chief Minister.

Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Vice Chairman State Planning Board Bhawani Singh Pathania, MLAs Sanjay Awasthi, Neeraj Nair and Vivek Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

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CM reviews HIMUDA projects, directs development of new townships near Chandigarh
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presided over a meeting of Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) to review various ongoing and proposed projects. He directed HIMUDA to explore the possibilities of developing new townships in proximity with Chandigarh to facilitate the people of the State and meet the growing housing demand.

He also reviewed the proposed Jathiya Devi Township near Shimla city and directed HIMUDA to appoint a consultant at the earliest to expedite the project. He said that Jathiya Devi Satellite town would play a vital role in decongesting the Shimla city and offer better amenities to the people. He was apprised that a blueprint of the satellite town has been prepared by the TATA Engineering Services Company keeping in view the aesthetic appeal of the area and ensuring world class facilities in the township.

The Chief Minister also assured to release Rs. 20 crore for the upcoming commercial complex at Vikasnagar in Shimla city to speed up the construction work. He said that this proposed complex will be one of the most modern buildings in the city housing government offices, shopping complex and other essential facilities.

Sh. Sukhu also reviewed various upcoming housing projects and directed to expedite to bring them on the ground across the State in a time bound manner for the benefit of the people of the State.

Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani, Vice Chairman HIMUDA Yashwant Chhajta, Additional Chief Secretary Revenue K.K. Pant, Principal Secretary Finance Devesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, HIMUDA Surender Vashisht, Director Town and Country Planning Hemis Negi and other senior officers also attended the meeting.

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Governor Pays Homage on 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
- Attends State-Level Function at Shimla
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla attended the state-level function organized by Shri Guru Singh Sabha, Shimla, at the historic Ridge today to mark the 350^th martyrdom anniversary of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

The Governor said that sacrifice, penance, devotion and service to humanity were the core messages of Guru Ji’s life and it is essential to follow the path shown by him. “Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s life teaches us that religion is not merely about worship, but about protecting humanity,” he said. The Governor added that Guru Ji sacrificed his life to safeguard the rights and freedom of all people and his supreme martyrdom proved that sacrifices made for truth and justice never go in vain.

He further said that Guru Ji’s message was not confined to any one faith, but was for the entire humanity. The gathering of people from diverse communities and regions on this sacred occasion reflects the true spirit of India’s unity and brotherhood, he added.

Shri Shukla said that whenever society faces fear, intolerance or division, Guru Ji’s teachings guide us towards courage, compassion and service. True devotion, he said, lies in serving humanity and walking the path of truth. The Governor urged people to imbibe Guru Ji’s ideals in their lives to be tolerant, respect others’ faiths and promote unity, harmony and the spirit of service in society.

Earlier, the Governor was felicitated by Jasvinder Singh, President of Shri Guru Singh Sabha, Shimla.

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, MP Suresh Kashyap, former MP and State Congress President Pratibha Singh, MLAs Harish Janartha and Hardeep Singh Bawa, Mayor Surender Chauhan, member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Daljit Singh Bhindar, members of the Sikh community and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

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CM pays glowing tribute at State-level event marking 350th Martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu participated in the State-level function organised by Shree Guru Singh Sabha, Shimla, at the Ridge on the occasion of the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

The Chief Minister carried the sacred Saroop of Shree Guru Granth Sahib Ji on his head in a mark of reverence and placed it respectfully on the stage. He said that Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji would always be remembered as a great warrior, spiritual leader, and protector of the motherland. His ideals, values and supreme sacrifice continue to inspire humanity to uphold righteousness and compassion.

Sh. Sukhu said that the teachings and life philosophy of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji serve as a guiding light for the youth to build a bright and strong future.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister honoured Jathedar Shree Akal Takht Sahib Amritsar, Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj.

President of Shree Guru Singh Sabha Shimla Jaswinder Singh presented a Siropa to the Chief Minister.

MLA's Harish Janartha, Hardeep Singh Bawa, Chief Minister’s Principal Media Advisor Naresh Chauhan, Mayor Surinder Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal, former Speaker HP Vidhan Sabha Dr. Rajeev Bindal, former Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, OSD to CM Gopal Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, SP Sanjeev Gandhi and other dignitaries were also present.

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CM releases two data driven publications of Statistical department
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today released two key statistical publications, Statistical Abstract of Himachal Pradesh 2024-25: Data Visualization and Statistical Year Book 2024-25, prepared by the Department of Economics and Statistics, Himachal Pradesh.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister commended the department’s continued efforts to strengthen data-driven governance in the State. He said that credible, transparent and timely data forms the foundation of sound development planning and ensures that growth benefits reach every citizen, particularly those in remote and vulnerable regions.

The 2024-25 edition introduces innovative data visualization features like, charts, graphs, maps and color-coded representations, which make the information more accessible, intuitive and user-friendly for policymakers, researchers, officials and the general public. These publications provide valuable insights across key sectors including agriculture, education, health, industry, infrastructure, finance, digital services and public welfare programmes.

Sh. Sukhu further highlighted that in today’s rapidly evolving economic landscape, evidence-based policymaking is critical to achieving sustainable and inclusive growth, adding that these publications represent an important milestone in Himachal Pradesh’s commitment towards modern and technology-enabled governance.

Secretary (Economics & Statistics) Dr. Abhishek Jain informed that similar datasets were also accessible online through the Digital Himachal Portal, ensuring public availability, transparency and ease of access. He highlighted the government’s vision of leveraging technology to support informed planning and improve service delivery outcomes for citizens.

Economics Adviser Dr. Vinod Rana stated that the enriched format of the Statistical Abstract has been developed to help administrators, planners, scholars and stakeholders to derive meaningful insights quickly. He further expressed gratitude to all data-providing departments, boards, corporations, and public sector undertakings for ensuring the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the information.

Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Home K.K. Pant, Principal Secretary Finance Devesh Kumar and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.

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