HIMUDA Board Approves ₹5 Crore for Preliminary Work on Morni Hills Township (Him Panchkula) at Pachhad, Sirmaur

What was decided

Approval was granted to initiate preliminary activities for several projects with an initial allocation of Rs 5 crore, including the proposed Him Chandigarh Township at Sheetalpur in Baddi (Solan district), a new township at Morni Hills in Pachhad and another planned township at Lunj near the Kangra airport. The projects are expected to modernise urban areas and create residential hubs in high-growth corridors.

Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani chaired the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) Board meeting on February 9 to discuss major housing and township initiatives, at which the Board approved the preliminary steps for several key projects with an initial funding allocation of Rs 5 crore.

The Pachhad/Morni Hills site specifically

The three township projects identified for initial development include the Him Chandigarh Township at Sheetalpur in Baddi (Solan district), a Morni Hills Township in Sirmaur district's Pachhad region, and a planned Lunj Township near the Kangra Airport. These locations have been chosen for their strategic importance, poised to support residential growth, improve connectivity and broaden the state's urban footprint.

By May 2026, HIMUDA's own briefings had begun referring to this Sirmaur project by a distinct name. The Himachal Pradesh government is planning a series of urban development projects, including Him Chandigarh, Him Panchkula and Kangra Valley Aero City, as part of efforts to promote planned urbanisation and create new revenue sources for the state.

Follow-up ground survey in Pachhad

After the Board's approval, the minister carried out an on-site feasibility survey in the Pachhad belt. Minister for Town and Country Planning Rajesh Dharmani surveyed Jaman ki Ser and Surla Janot villages in the Ghini Ghad region of Pachhad subdivision in Sirmaur district to assess the feasibility of developing a modern satellite township near the Haryana border. The minister was accompanied by Pacchad SDM Priyanka Chandra, HIMUDA CEO Surender Vashisht, Director Pradeep Surya, Executive Engineer Kushal Sharma, Pachhad Tehsildar Praveen Kumar, Naib Tehsildar Rahees Ahmed and officials of the revenue and allied departments during the inspection.

Dharmani said that the aim of the state government was to establish satellite townships in Himachal Pradesh on the lines of Chandigarh and Panchkula, adding that the Pachhad border belt offered strong potential for such projects, which would provide citizens with improved housing options while boosting the local economy, uplifting backward pockets and generating employment opportunities. Officials stressed that any land take-up would be voluntary: land for the projects would be taken only with the voluntary consent of the owners.

The minister said that the feasibility of setting up a satellite township would be explored from Lavasa Chowki to Mahalpreet Nagar, covering the Himachal-Haryana border stretch. Surla Janot revenue village has 148 bighas of government land, adding significant promise to the plan, and its connectivity further strengthens the case — Surla Janot is just 4 km from Dhamasha village in Morni hills and Panchkula is accessible within 36 km via Bari Ser.

Other decisions taken at the same Board meeting

• Jathia Devi satellite township (Shimla): Minister Dharmani highlighted progress near Shimla, noting that HIMUDA will develop 919 residential units on 21 bighas of land in the first phase of the Jathia Devi project, involving an estimated investment of Rs 1,327 crore and seeking to reduce congestion in Shimla while boosting economic activity in adjoining areas.
• Special housing quota: The Board made a significant policy decision to reserve a special quota of residential plots and flats for Olympic and Asian Games medalists, Gallantry Award winners, and recipients of the Children's Bravery Awards.
• Kangra colony sanction: In the Shree Jwala Ji Shakti Vihar Colony of Kangra district, the Board sanctioned the development of 130 plots and commercial spaces across 125 kanals of land, estimated at Rs 18.61 crore.
• Payment incentive: The Board approved a 5 per cent discount for those who make a lump-sum payment within 45 days of receiving their allotment letter.
• Policy reforms: The Board approved the development of new colonies under the Land Pooling Policy, with landowners' consent, and a Buy-Back Policy and a Redevelopment Policy were approved to streamline the maintenance and development of government housing and assets.
• Bilaspur commercial complex: A commercial complex comprising 17 shops, two halls and an Executive Engineer's office will be constructed in Ghumarwin, Bilaspur, at a cost of Rs 7.69 crore.

Who attended

The meeting was attended by HIMUDA Vice Chairman Yashwant Chhajta, Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, Principal Secretary Devesh Kumar, CEO and Secretary Surinder Kumar Vashisht, non-official Board members, and senior officials from various departments.

Practical effect and current status

The February 9 decision is a funding sanction to begin preparatory work — not a land acquisition order, not a master-plan approval, and not a RERA-registered project. No area figure, boundary, or per-unit rate for the Pachhad/Morni Hills site has been published by HIMUDA as of this writing.

Concrete, on-ground movement so far has been limited to a feasibility survey of specific revenue villages in the Pachhad border belt. Surla Janot is just 4 km from Dhamasha village in Morni hills and Panchkula is accessible within 36 km via Bari Ser — indicating the state is scouting sites close to the Haryana border rather than a single fixed footprint. By comparison, the Him Chandigarh Township at Sheetalpur is further along: it is being projected as a strategically located urban centre close to the Chandigarh region, expected to cater to growing housing demand from industrial expansion in the Baddi-Nalagarh area, with HIMUDA planning to develop it in a phased manner with residential, commercial and civic infrastructure.

Investors and local landowners in Sirmaur should treat "Him Panchkula" as a named but still-unformed proposal: government intent and initial budget exist, but acquisition boundaries, land rates, and a notified master plan have not yet been published.