Himachal Pradesh Cabinet Approves RERA Office Move to Dharamshala

Cabinet Decision to Relocate RERA Office

Sunil Chadha
Shimla/Dharamshala: The Himachal Pradesh cabinet has made a significant decision to transfer the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) office from Shimla to Dharamshala, following the earlier relocation of tourism and wildlife offices.

The Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, approved this move during a cabinet meeting, which has raised concerns among some members of the ruling Congress party, with a few senior leaders expressing their opposition. Nonetheless, the government is committed to its plan of establishing Kangra district as a new center for administration and tourism.

CM Advocates for Decentralization

This cabinet approval, finalized on Saturday, represents the third significant departmental shift from Shimla to Dharamshala in a brief period. Previously, the Directorate of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) and the Wildlife Department were also moved to the winter capital.

CM Sukhu has emphasized that these relocations are part of a larger strategy aimed at decentralizing administration and fostering regional development. One of the goals is to alleviate congestion in Shimla, which often experiences heavy traffic. He stated, “Kangra, being the largest district in the state, deserves proper representation and infrastructure. These changes will not only aid local employees but also stimulate the local economy by increasing demand for goods and services.”

However, dissent is surfacing within the Congress party. Kuldeep Rathore, a senior party leader and MLA from Theog, has publicly criticized the decision to move offices away from Shimla.

Concerns Raised by Bureaucrats

“The capital serves as the natural nerve center for administration. Fragmenting departments will lead to logistical challenges for both the public and the bureaucracy,” Rathore remarked, suggesting that such decisions should involve broader consultations.

Many bureaucrats have privately shared similar concerns, cautioning that relocating key offices could disrupt the seamless coordination of government operations, as numerous departments are interconnected and require frequent file exchanges.

Government's Swift Action Amid Criticism

Despite the backlash, the government is proceeding rapidly. The Kangra district administration has already compiled a list of available government buildings in and around Dharamshala for the state secretariat, which includes properties near Aghanjar Mahadev Temple, the Smart City office at Chilgari, and a mountaineering training center in McLeodganj. One of these locations will soon accommodate the RERA office.

RERA's primary responsibilities include ensuring transparency and accountability in real estate transactions, expediting dispute resolution, promoting investments, and protecting the interests of homebuyers. Officials believe that this relocation could improve the regulatory body's outreach in lower Himachal, where real estate activities have significantly increased in recent years.