The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh announced on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 the inauguration of two landmark urban infrastructure projects in Dharamshala: a redeveloped Fountain Square (Fawwara Chowk) built at a cost of Rs 70 lakh by Dharamshala Smart City Limited, and a two-storey e-bus charging depot and maintenance centre constructed at the old HRTC campus at a cost of Rs 11.90 crore.

Context

The post, shared from the official CMO Himachal Pradesh handle, states: 'Aaj Dharamshala Smart City Limited dwara 70 lakh rupaye ki lagat se punarvikasit Fawwara Chowk tatha purane HRTC parisar mein 11.90 crore rupaye ki lagat se bane do manzila e-bus charging depot evam anurakhshan kendra ka lokarpan kiya' — meaning, 'Today, the redeveloped Fountain Square at a cost of Rs 70 lakh by Dharamshala Smart City Limited, and the two-storey e-bus charging depot and maintenance centre built at a cost of Rs 11.90 crore at the old HRTC campus, were inaugurated.'

Dharamshala, the headquarters of Kangra district and the former summer capital of Himachal Pradesh, was selected as one of India's 100 Smart Cities in 2016 under the Smart Cities Mission launched by the Government of India in 2015.

Policy Backdrop

The Smart Cities Mission was conceived to deploy technology-enabled urban infrastructure in selected cities, with transport modernisation forming a core pillar. Dharamshala Smart City Limited is the special purpose vehicle constituted to execute such projects locally, channelling central and state funds into mobility and civic upgrades.

The e-bus charging depot at the old HRTC (Himachal Road Transport Corporation) campus aligns with India's broader national push under the FAME-II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) scheme, which incentivises electric public transport and supporting charging infrastructure. Himachal Pradesh has been progressively transitioning parts of the HRTC fleet to electric vehicles, and purpose-built depots are critical to sustaining that shift in hilly terrain.

At Rs 11.90 crore, the two-storey depot represents a significant capital commitment to green mobility infrastructure in a hill town where diesel emissions and narrow roads have long posed environmental and logistical challenges.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are Dharamshala's residents and the thousands of daily commuters who depend on HRTC bus services across Kangra district and beyond. A dedicated charging and maintenance facility reduces downtime for the electric fleet and lowers long-term operating costs for the state-run corporation.

The redeveloped Fountain Square, upgraded at Rs 70 lakh, improves a key public gathering point in the town centre, enhancing pedestrian experience and civic aesthetics — a visible dividend of Smart City spending for local residents and the town's substantial tourist footfall.

Environmentally, the infrastructure supports a shift away from fossil-fuel buses in a region that includes the ecologically sensitive Dhauladhar range and the internationally recognised town of McLeod Ganj.

What's Next

The commissioning of the Dharamshala e-bus charging depot is expected to accelerate the induction of additional electric buses into the HRTC fleet on routes serving Kangra district. Himachal Pradesh's electric mobility plans envisage further depot rollouts in other towns, contingent on state budget allocations for green transport in coming fiscal cycles.

With the Smart Cities Mission framework continuing to guide urban investment, Dharamshala's twin inaugurations signal the state government's intent to use remaining mission funds for visible, high-utility projects ahead of the programme's concluding phase.