Munish Sood
Mandi
Hamirpur Member of Parliament Anurag Singh Thakur on Sunday visited the under-construction permanent campus of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) at Dehra to review the progress of key academic and administrative infrastructure being developed at the site.
The inspection was carried out in the presence of CUHP Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sat Prakash Bansal. The MP expressed satisfaction over the quality and pace of construction work, stating that the project has witnessed substantial advancement since his last visit. He noted that most of the buildings are nearing completion and are expected to be ready for operational use in the near future.
Prof. Bansal informed that the university is planning to begin academic activities in the newly developed facilities from the upcoming academic session. He also stated that the administrative block is expected to be shifted to the Dehra campus shortly.
Highlighting the university’s achievements, the Vice-Chancellor said that despite functioning from a temporary campus, CUHP has carved a strong national reputation through academic excellence, research initiatives, and student-centric programmes aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy. He added that the full development of the permanent campus will significantly enhance the university’s academic and research potential.
Senior CUHP officials, representatives of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), and state government officers were also present during the visit. CPWD officials informed that the campus infrastructure will be handed over to the university in a phased manner between March and June 2026.
During the review, officials pointed out that while the state government has approved the water supply scheme for the campus, financial clearance for the electricity supply project—estimated at around Rs 10 crore—remains pending. Both utilities are essential for commissioning, testing, and ensuring the campus becomes fully functional.
Taking serious note of the matter, MP Thakur emphasized that ensuring timely availability of electricity and water is the responsibility of the state government. He directed the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Kangra, to expedite the electricity supply process and submit a detailed status report within one week. He also instructed officials to explore the possibility of providing a temporary power connection to support partial operations during the initial phase.
The MP further asked the Jal Shakti Department to complete the water supply scheme by June 2026 and stressed the need for stronger coordination between central and state agencies to avoid delays in this nationally significant higher education project.
Reiterating the Centre’s commitment, Thakur said the Government of India remains fully dedicated to strengthening higher education infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh and assured all possible support to make the CUHP Dehra campus fully operational at the earliest.
