Shanta Kumar Urges Himachal Chief Minister: Expedite Central University Construction

Dharamsala, December 16, 2023: Former Chief Minister and ex-Union Minister, Shanta Kumar, has written to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, urging the immediate start of the long-stalled construction work on the Central University, which has been pending for the past 14 years.

In a press release here today, Kumar highlighted that Himachal Pradesh was granted Central University status by the Government of India in 2009. Despite the passage of 14 years, the university building in Dharamshala is yet to be constructed. While a building is in progress in Dehra campus, construction in Dharamsala has not commenced. Kumar expressed his embarrassment at the unusual delay, emphasizing that no other state in India has a Central University without a constructed building.

“All required formalities have reportedly been completed, and the Central Government has approved Rs 500 crore for the project. However, the construction, estimated at Rs 500 crore, cannot commence until the Himachal government allocates Rs 30 crore”, said Shanta.

He added that Dharamshala, being the second major city after Shimla in the state with ample facilities, including air travel, is seen as a promising location for the university main campus. Kumar asserted that students and teachers are eager to come to Dharamshala, making the campus highly successful.

HPCU is to be constructed in two campuses, one at Dharamsala and other at Dharamshala in Kangra district.

In correspondence with Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, Kumar conveyed his confidence that the Chief Minister will allocate a state share of Rs 30 crore necessary to initiate the long-pending construction, which has been incomplete for 14 years. He made a special plea to Sukhu to release the funds before December 31, 2023, to avoid further delays, extending the completion time to 15 years if the deadline is missed