Sunil Chadha
Dharamshala: In an exclusive interview with The Newz Radar, Prof. Sat Prakash Bansal, Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP), confirmed that the long-pending proposal for establishing three campuses of the varsity has been cleared by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The university will now operate from Shahpur, Dharamshala and Dehra, fulfilling a long-standing demand.
Prof. Bansal, who took charge of CUHP in July 2021, recalled the initial resistance he faced regarding the multi-campus model.
“When I joined, I was advised not to touch the issue of three campuses. But within one year, we managed to get the land transferred for the Dharamshala campus,” he said.
A key hurdle in the process was ensuring the land’s suitability for construction.
“I ensured soil testing to bed one at least three times before we received a positive report,” Bansal disclosed, underlining the persistence required to move the project forward.
The biggest challenge, however, was at Dehra, where 287 encroachments stood in the way of the proposed campus site.
“I held nearly 50 meetings with the then state government officials, including the Chief Secretary at that time, Ram Subhag Singh. Everyone extended cooperation, and the issue was gradually resolved,” he said.
Prof. Bansal extended his gratitude to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, noting his support in steering the proposal through bureaucratic and political hurdles until its final approval by the PMO.
Looking ahead, Bansal announced that CUHP’s Dehra campus is scheduled to become operational by January 2026, while the existing campuses at Shahpur and Dharamshala will continue to function.
“This will be a landmark moment for higher education in Himachal Pradesh, ensuring accessibility, specialized facilities, and equitable development across regions,” he said.
With the clearance from the PMO, the CUHP’s vision of becoming a multi-campus central university is set to be realized, offering a stronger academic foundation for thousands of students in the hill state.
