Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday evening laid the foundation stone of an ambitious Rs 246-crore underground utility duct project in Shimla, marking a significant push to modernise the hill capital's ageing utility infrastructure. The project will develop an integrated underground network across key corridors of the city, replacing the tangle of overhead cables and repeatedly dug-up roads that have long defined Shimla's streetscape.

Context

Announcing the project on X (formerly Twitter), CM Sukhu said the underground utility duct network will be developed across three major corridors: Chhota Shimla–Willy's Park–Chaura Maidan (Chhota Shimla to Willy's Park to Chaura Maidan), Lok Bhawan–Oak Over (the state secretariat belt), and Sher-e-Punjab–CTO Chowk via Lower Bazar. The post, written in Hindi, stated that on completion, maintenance of electricity, telecommunications and other utility services will become 'more organised and convenient, and the need for repeated road digging will be reduced.'

Sukhu added that the project will 'enhance the beauty of the capital Shimla, improve civic amenities, and give tourists a more organised and attractive city experience.' He specifically highlighted the project's role in ensuring uninterrupted essential services during heavy snowfall and adverse weather — a perennial challenge for the Himalayan city.

Policy Backdrop

Shimla was selected under the Smart Cities Mission, launched by the central government in 2015, which supported area-based urban development including integrated utility networks. The city also received support under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), which funded water supply, sewerage and drainage upgrades that overlapped with earlier utility duct planning.

Indian hill cities have increasingly turned to underground utility ducts to cut recurring road-cutting costs, lower long-term maintenance expenditure, and protect services from extreme seasonal weather. The approach aligns with national urban missions that emphasise climate-resilient, integrated infrastructure design in ecologically sensitive zones. Similar projects are underway or planned in other Himalayan towns facing comparable disruptions each winter.

Stakeholders and Impact

Shimla's residents stand to benefit most directly: the project is designed to end the cycle of roads being dug up repeatedly by different utility agencies — a source of persistent civic grievance. Once the ducts are operational, electricity and telecom providers will access a shared underground corridor rather than excavating afresh each time.

The city's tourism economy is also a key consideration. Shimla receives millions of visitors annually, and a cleaner, cable-free streetscape — particularly in heritage zones such as Lower Bazar and the Mall Road belt — is expected to improve visitor experience. Utility providers, including power distribution companies and telecom operators, will gain a more reliable, weather-proof conduit for their networks.

What's Next

The phased rollout timeline and funding architecture — including any integration with AMRUT 2.0 or the Smart Cities Mission Special Purpose Vehicle — are yet to be detailed in the public domain. The government's stated goal is to have essential services running without disruption through the next winter season, when Shimla typically receives heavy snowfall that damages overhead infrastructure.

If executed on schedule, the Rs 246-crore project could serve as a template for other congested hill towns in Himachal Pradesh and across the Himalayas that face identical infrastructure vulnerabilities, signalling a broader shift in how mountain cities manage their utility networks.