Government Considering Setting Up Cyber City at Waknaghat: Chief Minister

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday that the government is planning to establish a Cyber City over 650 bighas in Waknaghat, Solan district. The proposed hub will house data storage facilities, artificial intelligence (AI) ventures, and other IT-based enterprises.

Chairing a high-level meeting of the Department of Digital Technology and Governance, the Chief Minister directed officials to finalize the detailed blueprint of the project at the earliest. He emphasized that the IT sector remains a top priority for his government, which is taking concrete steps to foster technological advancement and attract investment in IT infrastructure across the state.

Sukhu also reviewed the ongoing construction of the Centre of Excellence at Waknaghat and instructed officials to expedite the work. He said an AI laboratory would be set up at the centre and directed that the IT Parks at Chaitaru (Kangra) and Mehli (Shimla) be completed by December 2025.

Highlighting the importance of digital transformation in governance, the Chief Minister said all departments must digitize their operations to ensure efficient and citizen-friendly service delivery.
“Our goal is to provide maximum public services to people at their doorstep — with just a click,” he said, adding that every department must fully adopt IT solutions and operate through the e-office system to enhance transparency and efficiency.

Sukhu further directed that workshops be organized to familiarize government officials with e-file management and emerging technologies, encouraging wider adoption of digital tools. He also instructed that each department appoint a nodal officer to monitor the online progress of government announcements and made it mandatory for all officials in the state secretariat to record their attendance regularly.