Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s three-day visit to Rohru and Rampur from October 1 to 3 brought the state government directly into some of the most remote parts of Shimla district, with development projects worth ₹415.80 crore announced or inaugurated across the two Assembly constituencies.
The visit, which included overnight stays in Bhatawari in Rohru and Kasha-Pat in Rampur, was aimed at taking administration closer to communities in difficult-to-reach mountain areas and allowing the chief minister to hear local concerns first-hand.
The state government described the visit as part of its effort to ensure that development in Himachal Pradesh reaches villages where access to roads, healthcare, education, transport and employment remains closely linked to geography.
Sukhu said the government would give priority to remote areas and directed officials to address issues raised by residents during public interactions. In several instances, announcements were made on the spot in response to local demands.
For Rohru, the government announced 61 development projects involving an estimated ₹182.87 crore, while 28 projects worth ₹232.93 crore were announced for the Rampur Assembly constituency.
A major theme of the visit was education. During an interaction with students of the PM Shri Government Model Senior Secondary School in Rohru, Sukhu announced ₹2 crore for construction of a new school building after a student raised the demand.
The government also announced that the schools at Jangla and Chirgaon would be brought under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) system. A similar announcement was made for Taklech school in the Rampur constituency.
At Kasha-Pat, one of the remote areas visited by the chief minister, Sukhu announced another ₹2 crore for a new school building and said a playground would also be developed in the village. The government is also working towards starting a bus service from Kasha-Pat via Taklech to Rampur to improve connectivity for students and residents.
At Rampur Bushahr, a student’s request for a new building for Government Senior Secondary School Racholi was accepted, with ₹2 crore announced for its construction.
The chief minister also made a series of announcements relating to local administration and public services in Rohru. These included upgrading Community Health Centre Sandasu into a civil hospital, opening a sub-tehsil at Samarkot and conducting a survey for establishing an SDM office at Chirgaon.
The government also announced that the Dhambwari school would be developed as a CBSE school.
Road connectivity, a critical issue for hill communities and apple growers, remained another major focus. Sukhu said ₹36 crore had been sanctioned for construction of the Tikker-Jarol-Gahan road. The road is expected to improve access to markets for apple growers in the area.
He also announced ₹20 lakh for the Chingwari road and assured residents that the Barsheel bridge would be made motorable. Five lakh rupees each were announced for women’s groups, while ₹5 lakh was sanctioned for construction of the Pekha-Diudi Mahila Mandal building.
During his interaction with farmers and livestock owners at Chirgaon, Sukhu announced an increase in the support price of milk from December 1. He also announced a ₹1 per kg increase in the procurement price of apples under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), taking it from ₹12 to ₹13 per kg.
The visit also had a strong anti-drug focus. Sukhu participated in anti-Chitta rallies in both Rohru and Rampur and reiterated the state government’s commitment to making Himachal Pradesh free from the menace of the synthetic drug.
In Bhatawari, the chief minister held a ‘Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar’ programme, interacting directly with villagers and hearing their demands concerning roads, education, drinking water, transport and community infrastructure.
The government also distributed financial assistance of ₹5.78 crore to 1,471 registered construction workers and their dependants in Nogli under various welfare schemes implemented through the Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
The three-day visit reflected the state government’s emphasis on taking governance beyond district headquarters and major towns. By spending nights in remote villages and holding direct interactions with residents and students, Sukhu sought to underline the government’s focus on rural connectivity, education, healthcare, livelihoods and social infrastructure across Himachal Pradesh.
For the hill state, where difficult terrain often determines the reach and cost of public services, the government’s challenge remains not only announcing development projects but ensuring their timely implementation and tangible benefits for communities living in the state’s most remote areas.
