Education Minister Rohit Thakur today here chaired a detailed planning and review meeting with officers of the Public Works Department (PWD) and Jal Shakti Department to assess the progress of development works in the Jubbal-Kotkhai Assembly Constituency of district Shimla. He reviewed ongoing works related to water supply, irrigation, sewerage, roads and public infrastructure.
It was informed that under the Jal Shakti Department, a total of 94 schemes were under execution in the constituency with an estimated cost of Rs. 250.25 crore. In addition to this, 20 new schemes, costing Rs. 152.34 crore are under consideration at the final stage for approval.
Rohit Thakur said that under the New Development Bank (NDB), an ambitious lift water supply scheme from Pabber river amounting to Rs. 38 crore is being executed, covering 27 panchayats. Nearly 90 percent of the work has been completed and the remaining works would be completed by 31st March 2026.
This was the only project sanctioned for Shimla district by the then BRICS, now NDB, secured in 2017 with execution beginning in 2022. The Minister reviewed scheme-wise progress and directed officers to remove bottlenecks and expedite pending works.
He said that under the Asian Development Bank (ADB), nine schemes worth Rs. 22.82 crore have been sanctioned for Jubbal-Kotkhai constituency. The Minister said that during the period 2023-24 to 2025-26 in PWD department works amounting to Rs. 553.74 crore have been taken up in the constituency under various heads across Jubbal Kotkhai constituency.
In addition, sector-wise expenditure during 2023-24 to 2025-26 under departments including Education, Health, Animal Health, Ayurveda, Technical Education, Horticulture and Police amounted to Rs. 40.71 crore. The Public Works Department officers informed that 25 buildings of various government departments have been completed and dedicated to the public and 15 others were under construction which would further strengthen administrative and service delivery infrastructure in the constituency.
It was further informed that recently under PMGSY-IV, 18 road projects worth Rs. 112 crore have recently been sanctioned. The Education Minister directed all concerned departments to speed up pending works, ensure strict adherence to timelines, maintain quality standards and improve coordination at the field level so that public benefits were delivered without delay.
Senior officers of the PWD and Jal Shakti Department were present in the meeting.