HIMUDA–HUDCO MoU: Him Panchkula Named Among Three New Satellite Cities for Himachal Pradesh

What was decided

On 25 March 2026, an MoU was signed between HIMUDA, the Government of Himachal Pradesh (GoHP), and HUDCO (the Housing and Urban Development Corporation) to develop three new satellite cities—HIM Chandigarh, HIM Panchkula, and Kangra Valley Aerocity—marking a significant step toward sustainable urban expansion in the hill state. The MoU itself is a collaboration framework rather than a site-specific land notification: the three satellite cities are envisioned as well-planned urban centers that will decongest existing urban areas while providing high-quality infrastructure and living standards.

Of the three, Him Panchkula's stated brief is narrower than the other two: it is described as a development aimed at creating a sustainable urban extension near Panchkula, focusing on integrated infrastructure and green spaces. No separate MoU clause, land area, plot rate, or RERA registration number for Him Panchkula has been published as of this writing (August 2026).

Which body decided, and who signed

The decision was executed jointly by three bodies: the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA), the Government of Himachal Pradesh, and the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) — the latter being the central government's housing finance PSU that also co-funds HIMUDA schemes. The MoU signing ceremony was held in the esteemed presence of Shri Rajesh Dharmani, Hon'ble Minister for Housing, Town and Country Planning (TCP), Technical Education, Vocational affairs, together with senior officials of HIMUDA and HUDCO. HUDCO's own announcement of the ceremony added that it was attended by Shri Yashwant Chhajta, Vice Chairman, HIMUDA, and that the tie-up was framed as a forward-looking initiative aimed at fostering sustainable, well-planned, and future-ready urban ecosystems, strengthening infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of life in Himachal Pradesh.

Where Him Panchkula fits: location context

The MoU text does not itself fix a boundary for Him Panchkula, but earlier HIMUDA activity points to the likely site. In November 2025, Minister Dharmani surveyed Jaman ki Ser and Surla Janot villages in the Ghini Ghad region of Pachhad subdivision in Sirmaur district specifically to assess the feasibility of developing a modern satellite township near the Haryana border, explicitly on the model of the aim of the state government was to establish satellite townships in Himachal Pradesh on the lines of Chandigarh and Panchkula. That survey found Surla Janot revenue village has 148 bighas of government land, with connectivity noted as Surla Janot is just 4 km from Dhamasha village in Morni hills and Panchkula is accessible within 36 km via Bari Ser.

Three months later, at its 9 February 2026 board meeting, HIMUDA formally moved this site into its project pipeline. The Board approved the initiation of preliminary activities for several key projects, with an initial allocation of Rs. 5 crore. These include the proposed Him Chandigarh Township at Sheetalpur in Baddi in Solan district, a new township at Morni Hills in Pachhad and another planned development township at Lunj near the Kangra Airport. The Pachhad/Morni Hills project referenced here sits in the same Sirmaur border belt surveyed in November 2025, and is the project subsequently branded "Him Panchkula" in the March 2026 MoU — though none of the sources reviewed explicitly use both names in the same sentence, so this link should be treated as a location correspondence rather than a confirmed official rename.

Status since the MoU (as of May 2026)

At a HIMUDA review meeting reported in mid-May 2026, chaired by Minister Dharmani, 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. The meeting framed this as strategic: the government is focusing on planned expansion to reduce increasing pressure on existing urban areas and ensure balanced regional development. Land-acquisition detail given at that meeting related specifically to Him Chandigarh — Dharmani said that land for the Him Chandigarh project was being acquired through mutual agreement and land pooling — with no equivalent land-acquisition figures disclosed for Him Panchkula. A separate Tribune report on the same review round noted more broadly that the process of land acquisition is underway and international consultants are being appointed to plan these modern cities, without breaking this out by individual project.

Practical effect for investors and residents

The MoU is an intent-and-collaboration document, not a land-acquisition award, master-plan approval, or RERA project launch. Its practical effects to date are: (1) it formally places Him Panchkula on HIMUDA's project list alongside Him Chandigarh and Kangra Valley Aerocity; (2) it brings HUDCO in as a financing/technical partner, mirroring HUDCO's traditional role of taking loan from financial institutions like HUDCO, National housing Bank etc. for HIMUDA schemes; and (3) it follows, rather than replaces, the Board's own February 2026 decision to fund preliminary planning work for the Pachhad/Morni Hills site with an initial Rs 5 crore allocation shared across three separate proposed townships. No plot booking, price list, boundary notification, or RERA number for Him Panchkula exists in the public record as of August 2026. Prospective buyers or landowners in the Pachhad border belt should treat any current offers referencing "Him Panchkula" as pre-notification and unverified against an official layout.