Palampur on the move: Butail unveils vision to connect all villages with roads in 2 years

Local MLA Ashish Butail on Wednesday announced that under his “Vision for the Development of Palampur,” all villages in the constituency will be connected with motorable roads within the next two years. Speaking at a public meeting after inaugurating six development projects — including two internal roads in Ward No. 6 of the Palampur Municipal Corporation — Butail said the road construction work had been progressing steadily for the past year, with adequate funds already allocated.

He added that he is personally monitoring the progress of each project to ensure timely completion. “In the hills, roads are a lifeline,” Butail said, while criticising the previous BJP-led government for what he termed a development standstill. “During the BJP regime, all major development projects — whether roads, school buildings, hospitals or even the bus stand expansion — suffered due to fund shortages.”

Butail assured residents that the current government is committed to steady and uninterrupted development and that he would ensure no project stalls due to lack of funding.

A master plan for Palampur’s urban future

The MLA also revealed that the state government will soon prepare a master plan for the planned and sustainable development of Palampur town, with a special focus on developing the area as a major tea tourism hub while preserving its natural environment.

He said the creation of the Palampur Municipal Corporation has opened the door to a series of urban development initiatives. Among the key projects currently in the pipeline are the installation of sewage systems in six wards, the implementation of a solid waste management system for urban areas and the completion of the indoor stadium, which is expected by the end of the year. Additionally, the laying of sewerage lines has already been initiated by the Irrigation and Public Health Department, marking a significant step towards improving the town’s civic infrastructure.

Gopal Nag, Mayor of Palampur Municipal Corporation, shared that in the last four years, the MC had initiated several projects including the installation of street lights across all 15 wards, paver tile pathways and new parking facilities. Palampur MC Commissioner Ashish Sharma added that the corporation has transformed the city into a clean and green urban space.

“We’ve established a foolproof system for the scientific handling of garbage, ensuring daily door-to-door waste collection. Garbage dumps have virtually disappeared from the town,” he noted.