The Himachal Government has decided to harness its existing resources for cost savings with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu led Government directing six major government departments including the Women and Child Development, H.P. Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission, State Taxes and Excise, H.P. State Food Commission, Directorate of Energy and Office of DGP H.P. Police HDQRS Emergency Response Support System to relocate from rented accommodations to the vacant Tutikandi Parking Complex Shimla in January 2024.
This decision aims not only to optimize the utilization of long-vacant buildings but also to curtail public expenses.
In a statement, Sukhu said, "The office of Police Helpline is already functioning from the Multi-storey Parking Tutikandi and now six additional departments will operate from this building, which will ensure optimal use of the building which is lying vacant for a long time. This would not only put to use the unutilized building constructed with the public money but also save more than Rs. 10 lakh per month which is being spent for hiring rented accommodation for these government offices."
The General Administration Department has overseen the modifications to the building's interior to suit the specific needs of the respective departments. The Public Works Department, responsible for the building's transformation has completed the task, making the office space ready for occupancy. The GAD has now directed these six departments to apply for the electricity and water connections in their names at the earliest to facilitate the smooth transition to the new building.
Sukhu said the present State Government is dedicated to resource mobilization and fiscal responsibility. He attributed the State's financial challenges to the previous BJP Government's mismanagement but expressed confidence in the present government's ability to steer the economy back on course. Stressing the significance of saving public money as a means of revenue generation, he reiterated the commitment of the State Government to the optimal use of existing infrastructure in line with the government's broader agenda for Vyavastha Parivartan.