HIMUDA to focus on sustainable, inclusive urban development: CM Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

CM to HIMUDA: Work with a vision of sustainable, inclusive urban development

• CM presides over 52nd meeting of the Board of Directors
• BoD approves One-Time Settlement policy for payment dues disputes
• Green Signal for land acquisition process for Rs 1373 crores “Mountain City” near Shimla airport

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presided over the 52nd meeting of the Board of Directors (BoD) of the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) on Friday late evening. He stressed the importance of adopting the latest construction techniques and leveraging IT platforms to enhance its presence and service to the public. He also recommended the adoption of electronic measurement books (e-MBs) to streamline record-keeping and reduce the dependence on physical documentation. Additionally, he directed officials to speed up the tendering process through the e-tendering system as per the latest guidelines from the Government.

The Chief Minister further directed that HIMUDA should continue to forge ahead with a vision of sustainable, inclusive urban development. He also emphasized the need to increase the size of flats and make them more user-friendly.

The Chief Minister reviewed all the projects of HIMUDA in detail and gave necessary directions. He said that HIMUDA should work in a competitive manner and take innovative initiatives in its projects. He also directed officials to organize exposure visits for the employees and take effective steps for capacity building.

One-Time Settlement Policy

One of the significant decisions made during the meeting was the approval of a One-Time Settlement (OTS) policy for allottees across the state who had encountered disputes concerning payment dues. This policy will offer these individuals the opportunity to settle their long-pending payment dues at a significantly reduced rate. This policy will not only ease the financial burden on the public but also provide HIMUDA with consolidated resources that can be reinvested in further activities for the greater good of the public. The BoD also directed to make a provision to regularize the attics of buildings under the One Time Settlement Policy and also to make its policy in accordance with the decision taken by the state government regarding the attic.

“Mountain City” project

Another notable decision made during the meeting was to give the green signal for HIMUDA to acquire land for the establishment of the new township, “Mountain City,” near Jubbar-Hatti Airport, as a counter-magnet city to alleviate congestion in Shimla. This ambitious project is expected to invigorate economic activities and employment in the area while creating an ultra-modern city with state-of-the-art infrastructure, incorporating advanced seismic technology. The estimated cost of this endeavour is approximately Rs. 1373 crores.

These decisions mark a significant stride towards sustainable, inclusive urban development in Himachal Pradesh.