Four-lane highway worth Rs 430 crore in pipeline
Sunil Chadha
Una: The ambitious Bulk Drug Park is set to provide a major infrastructure push to Haroli in Una district of Himachal Pradesh, with plans for both four-lane highway construction and enhanced rail connectivity. The project, a joint effort by the Central and Himachal Pradesh governments, is expected to redefine the region’s industrial and logistical landscape.
To handle the anticipated surge in freight traffic, estimated at over 2,000 trucks daily, a 19-km four-lane highway will be built between Santoshgarh and Haroli. The project’s detailed project report (DPR) has already been completed and a proposal for funding has been submitted to the NITI Aayog. Once approved, the construction is expected to commence swiftly.
Officials say that existing roads are inadequate for the volume of industrial traffic the Bulk Drug Park will generate. The proposed four-lane route will enhance transport safety, streamline cargo movement and benefit local commuters with improved connectivity.
Rail link proposal to reduce logistics costs
In addition to road upgrades, a rail connectivity plan is also in the works. The broad gauge railway line at Jejon station in Punjab, located just a few km from the project site, is proposed to be extended directly to the Bulk Drug Park. The state government has submitted this proposal to the Ministry of Railways.
Rail access to the park would significantly lower logistics and transportation costs for industrial units, especially for bulk cargo. It is expected to make the park more competitive and attractive for national and international investors.
Haroli on track to become pharma hub
With improved road and rail infrastructure, the Bulk Drug Park in Haroli is poised to become not just a key industrial node in Himachal Pradesh, but a pharma hub for all of north India. The project is expected to create substantial employment opportunities, strengthen the local economy and attract major pharmaceutical companies from across the globe.
This multi-modal connectivity approach marks a transformational leap for Haroli and is in line with the government’s broader vision of sustainable, inclusive industrial growth in the state.
India’s ambitious push for pharmaceutical self-reliance is set to take a major leap forward with the construction of the Bulk Drug Park. Designed to significantly reduce India’s overdependence on China for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), this park is expected to transform not just Himachal Pradesh’s industrial profile but also the nation’s strategic capacity in drug manufacturing.
India currently imports more than 65 per cent of its API requirements from China, a figure that rises to 90 per cent for some essential, life-saving medicines. This reliance has long posed a challenge to India’s health security, particularly during geopolitical tensions or supply chain disruptions.
With annual API consumption valued at around Rs 40,000 crore, any fluctuation in diplomatic or trade relations with China places India’s pharmaceutical supply at considerable risk.
