Himachal clears 3,000-bigha Shitalpur township around Baddi near Chandigarh

Shimla, Dec 30,

A move aimed at reshaping urban expansion along Himachal Pradesh’s industrial belt, the Council of Ministers on Tuesday cleared the way for developing a major world-class township near Chandigarh. The state government has approved acquisition of nearly 3,000 bigha of land at Shitalpur in Baddi, positioning the project as a catalyst for economic activity and structured urbanisation in Solan district.

After the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan confirmed that the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) will lead the land acquisition process. Of the identified land, around 1,500 bigha is government-owned, while the remainder falls under private ownership and will be procured after completing statutory procedures.

Chauhan emphasised that Shitalpur’s strategic location on the Himachal–Chandigarh border offers significant development potential and clarified that the project is not a replacement for the previously announced Jathiadevi township near Shimla. According to him, villagers in the Shitalpur region have largely shown willingness to cooperate, signaling fewer hurdles in comparison with earlier experiences.

Notably, the decision comes even as dissent continues to simmer around the Jathiadevi project. On Monday, residents of Bagi Panchayat protested, accusing the government of attempting to take away fertile farmland and threatening their livelihoods. That pushback had stalled progress and sparked political debate on land acquisition policies.

The government, aware of growing concerns over displacement, says it intends to ensure consensus-driven development at Shitalpur with proper safeguards for affected families. “Balanced development” and “minimal livelihood disruption” are being projected as key principles guiding the project.

The Cabinet also green-lit amendments to Rule-3 of the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Rules, 2017 — a step the government claims will enhance transparency and accelerate dispute resolution in the real estate sector, ensuring public trust and smoother investment inflow.

Land has been marked at five different sites across the state for future townships, and another proposal near the Morni Hills region remains under serious consideration. With efforts now shifting to Shitalpur, the Sukhu government appears determined to advance its urban transformation agenda, while attempting to balance development ambitions with social acceptance — a challenge that will define Himachal’s next phase of growth

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