Him-Chandigarh Township (Shitalpur, Baddi) — Complete Overview

What Him-Chandigarh Is

Him-Chandigarh is an Upcoming world-class Planned Township declared by the Government of Himachal Pradesh in the Shitalpur-Baddi region near the Chandigarh border, located in Solan District, forming part of the state's long-term plans to ensure planned urbanization and alleviate pressure on saturated hill towns. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the Himachal Pradesh government has decided to develop a world-class Him–Chandigarh Township along the border of Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, close to the industrial hub of Baddi.

"We have decided to build a large, world-class city in Himachal Pradesh. Carrying forward the 'Him' identity of the state, the city will be named 'Him-Chandigarh'," Sukhu said. The project is referred to interchangeably in official and media coverage as Him-Chandigarh, the Shitalpur Township, and the Baddi world-class township — all describing the same proposal.

Who Is Building It

After the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan confirmed that the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) will lead the land acquisition process. The Board of Directors of HIMUDA formally approved the proposed Him-Chandigarh Township at Sheetalpur in Baddi, along with several major housing, commercial and policy initiatives aimed at strengthening planned urban development across the state.

During that session, the Board approved the initiation of preliminary activities for several key projects with an initial allocation of Rs 5 crore, including the proposed Him Chandigarh Township at Sheetalpur in Baddi, a new township at Morni Hills in Pachhad, and another planned development township at Lunj near the Kangra Airport. HIMUDA plans to develop the township in a phased manner with residential, commercial and civic infrastructure, ensuring planned growth and regulated urbanisation.

Official Land Position: Area, Villages and District

The cabinet cleared the acquisition of 3,400 bigha of land to be allocated to the state housing department, with the acquisition of more private and forest land being considered. To meet planning requirements, up to 3,700 bigha will be acquired. Of the identified land, around 1,500 bigha is government-owned, while the remainder falls under private ownership and will be procured after completing statutory procedures.

The Chief Minister said the government has also decided to pool Gram Panchayat land on the other side of the border, while ensuring environmental safeguards, with about 10,000 bigha of green forest area in and around the township to be preserved. Sukhu said three panchayats were willing to give land for the new, world-class township at Shitalpur through land pooling.

By mid-2026, the reported land base had grown considerably beyond the original figure. A panel reviewing the proposed satellite town on the lines of Chandigarh in the BBN region was informed that 7,042 bighas of land had already been consolidated for the project. This is a much larger figure than the 3,400–3,700 bigha originally cleared, suggesting the project's footprint has expanded as more panchayats and private landowners have come forward — but no single, final notified boundary or village list had been published as of this figure being reported (June 2026).

Why It Exists

The Him-Chandigarh Township has been conceptualized as a planned development initiative to tackle the problems posed by uncontrolled growth and infrastructure pressures encountered in contemporary hill towns. Its stated objectives, as set out by the state government, are to:

• Promote planned development with proper zoning, infrastructure, and long-term environmental balance.
• Create well-structured spaces for housing, business, public services, and community facilities.
• Strengthen links between the Baddi–Nalagarh industrial belt and the Chandigarh–Mohali–Panchkula (Tricity) region.
• Encourage investment, generate jobs, and support industrial and service-sector growth, while reducing pressure on congested cities by developing a new, purpose-built urban centre.

The township is expected to cater to the growing housing demand generated by industrial expansion in the Baddi-Nalagarh area and increasing migration towards the region for employment. Officials have also clarified that the project is not intended as a replacement for anything in the existing towns, but as a new, purpose-built urban centre.

Current Status and Timeline

As of this writing, there is no published master plan, sector layout, RERA registration, or plot-booking window for Him-Chandigarh. The project remains in a master planning and consultant-selection phase, with drone and land-parcel mapping reported.

Local Opposition and Land-Pooling Concerns

A day after CM Sukhu announced that three panchayats were willing to give land for the township, residents of two villages opposed the move, saying acquisition of land for the purpose would render them landless. A former pradhan of Sandoli panchayat said the main occupation of the people there is farming and milk production, and "if there is no land left, both these occupations will automatically come to an end."

Residents of Malpur and Sandoli panchayats protested at a meeting in Shitalpur, saying land had already been acquired for a four-lane highway and railway projects and warning that a new township would leave local people landless. They also vowed to take legal recourse if the government remained adamant on acquiring village land. The state government has responded by stressing land pooling with landowner consent rather than compulsory acquisition as the preferred route, alongside the promise to preserve nearby forest cover.

Headline Connectivity

Him-Chandigarh is planned in Shitalpur, Baddi — just 30 km from Chandigarh. The township is intended to help connect the Baddi-Nalagarh industrial corridor and the Tricity region of Chandigarh–Mohali–Panchkula. It will also cover the Baddi-Nalagarh industrial corridor, enhancing connectivity between industrial and residential zones.

A proposed railway link to Chandigarh is also part of the connectivity vision for the area, which should make commuting easier once developed. The site sits within the wider Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial belt, one of Himachal Pradesh's largest manufacturing and pharmaceutical clusters, which is the primary source of the housing and workforce demand the township is meant to serve.

What Happens Next

The process to acquire up to 3,700 bigha was, as of early 2026, still underway to meet planning requirements. CM Sukhu said more land would be acquired over the next six months and consultants would be appointed to ensure world-class facilities in the township.

Near-term milestones to watch include: finalisation of the total notified land parcel and village list; appointment of master-planning consultants; resolution of the land-pooling dispute with Malpur and Sandoli residents; and publication of a formal layout plan and land-use split, none of which had been released as of mid-2026. HIMUDA has indicated the township will be built in a phased manner with residential, commercial and civic infrastructure, ensuring planned growth and regulated urbanisation — but specific phase boundaries, timelines, and RERA registration are yet to be announced.