Sunil Chadha
Shimla/Dharamshala: After relocating the state’s tourism and wildlife offices, the Himachal Pradesh cabinet has now approved the shifting of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) office from the state capital Shimla to Dharamshala.
The decision, cleared by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at a cabinet meeting, has stirred unease within sections of the ruling Congress, with some senior leaders voicing their dissent.
Nevertheless, the government appears determined to push ahead with its vision of making Kangra district a new administrative and tourism hub.
Amid internal opposition, CM defends decentralisation
The latest cabinet approval, granted on Saturday, marks the third major departmental move from Shimla to Dharamshala within a short span. Last month, the Directorate of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) and the state Wildlife Department were relocated to the winter capital.
CM Sukhu has maintained that these relocations are part of a broader administrative decentralisation and regional development strategy. One of the aims is to decongest Shimla, which faces long traffic snarls.
“Kangra, being the state’s largest district, deserves adequate representation and infrastructure. These moves will not only benefit local employees but also boost the local economy through increased demand for goods and services,” he said.
However, dissent is brewing within the Congress party. Senior party leader and MLA from Theog, Kuldeep Rathore, had earlier publicly criticized the move to shift offices out of Shimla.
Several bureaucrats express concern over shifting
“The capital is the natural nerve center of administration. Moving departments piecemeal will create logistical complications for both the public and the bureaucracy,” Rathore had said, adding that such decisions should be taken after wider consultation.
Several bureaucrats have echoed similar concerns in private, warning that the relocation of key offices could hamper the smooth coordination of government work, as many departments are interlinked and require constant file exchanges.
Despite criticism, government moving swiftly
Despite the criticism, the government is moving swiftly. The Kangra district administration has already sent a list of available government buildings in and around Dharamshala to the state secretariat, which includes properties near Aghanjar Mahadev Temple, the Smart City office at Chilgari and a mountaineering training center in McLeodganj. One of these will soon house the RERA office.
RERA’s core mandate includes ensuring transparency and accountability in real estate transactions, fast-tracking dispute resolution, encouraging investments, and safeguarding the interests of homebuyers.
Officials believe the shift could enhance the regulatory body’s outreach in lower Himachal, where real estate activity has surged in recent years.
