Punjab Newsline | Shimla
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday chaired the North Regional Inter-State Dialogue Session on Quality Assurance in Public Works Departments in Shimla. The meeting was attended by senior officials and engineers from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the state government has initiated comprehensive reforms in the Public Works Department (PWD) to effectively address future infrastructure challenges. He noted that Himachal Pradesh has faced several natural disasters over the past three years, during which the PWD played a commendable role in restoring connectivity and public infrastructure.
Sukhu highlighted that the effects of climate change and natural disasters are becoming increasingly visible in Himachal Pradesh and may impact other states in the future as well.
Since nearly 90 percent of the state's terrain is mountainous, road connectivity remains a basic necessity for its people. He stressed that the department must now focus on advanced infrastructure projects such as tunnel construction and multi-storey buildings while adopting modern technologies and innovative work practices to ensure sustainable development.
Chief Minister warned that rebuilding disaster-damaged infrastructure would be one of the biggest challenges in the coming years. He said nearly four percent of the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is currently spent on disaster reconstruction, and this expenditure could rise to 14 percent by 2050. He emphasized the need to strengthen departmental capabilities and embrace modern engineering solutions to meet future demands.
Sukhu also suggested that the Public Works Department should expand beyond its traditional role and explore emerging sectors, including dam construction, adding that the government is considering broadening the department's scope of work.
Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh said Himachal Pradesh now has a road network of nearly 45,000 kilometres, with most gram panchayats connected by roads. He added that maintaining this vast infrastructure has become a major challenge for the state.
