Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday evening, 24 May 2026, undertook a foot walk from Oak Over to Chhota Shimla and the High Court, interacting with local residents and tourists visiting from various parts of the state.

Context

Posting on X, CM Sukhu wrote: 'Aaj shaam Oak Over se Chhota Shimla aur High Court tak paidal bhraman kiya' ['This evening I walked from Oak Over to Chhota Shimla and the High Court'], adding that tourists he met during the walk appreciated the utility duct work and improved street lighting being developed in Shimla city.

The walk covered one of Shimla's busiest civic corridors, giving the Chief Minister direct exposure to on-ground conditions and first-hand citizen feedback on infrastructure works in progress.

Policy Backdrop

Shimla was included in the Central government's Smart Cities Mission in 2016, with a focus on underground utility ducts and upgraded street lighting to reduce the visual clutter of overhead cables and improve public safety in the congested hill city.

Underground utility ducts consolidate electricity, telecom, and water lines into a single corridor beneath roads, eliminating the need for repeated road-cutting and preserving the heritage streetscape that draws millions of tourists to Shimla every year. Upgraded street lighting complements these works by improving visibility and pedestrian safety along key routes.

Himachal Pradesh governments have consistently prioritised infrastructure modernisation in Shimla as a lever for both tourism competitiveness and the daily mobility needs of residents in one of India's most densely built hill capitals.

Stakeholders and Impact

Residents of Shimla stand to benefit from fewer road disruptions once utility ducts are fully operational, while tourists — who form the economic backbone of the city — gain a cleaner, better-lit environment. The positive feedback relayed by CM Sukhu suggests that the visible progress of these works is already registering with visitors arriving from across Himachal Pradesh.

Local traders and hospitality businesses along the Oak Over–Chhota Shimla–High Court corridor are among the most directly affected stakeholders, as construction activity and subsequent infrastructure improvements influence footfall and accessibility in equal measure.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the completion timelines for the remaining phases of the utility duct network and street-light upgrades in Shimla's core areas, as well as any state budget provisions for replicating similar works in other Himachal towns. The Chief Minister's ground-level walkthrough signals continued executive attention to the pace of delivery on these projects ahead of the peak summer tourist season.