Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday said that the Congress government would fulfill seven key guarantees on 11 December. Apart from this the government was working tirelessly to introduce more welfare schemes in the near future.

Addressing a public gathering at Bakhli in the Siraj Assembly constituency of Mandi district,  he said that the present state government dissolved the Subordinate Services Selection Commission in Hamirpur after allegations of corruption and paper leaks, adding that he could let the future of the youth jeopardized due to corruption. He questioned the inaction of former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur during these incidents.

Sukhu said that the present state government has discontinued the practice of halting development projects of the previous governments. He said that the present state government has allocated Rs. 28 crore for the Baglamukhi ropeway project which was an example of commitment of congress government towards meaningful development. He accused the previous BJP government of constructing buildings without appointing staff and opening 900 institutions just before the elections without providing adequate budgets and manpower. He described such actions as a betrayal of the public and stressed that the present state government would open new institutions only after ensuring proper staffing.

He said that the previous BJP government has left the state treasury in dire straits, and no money was left to run the government for even a month. He said that the present state government had introduced significant policy changes over the past two years to benefit the common people. He said that the restoration of the old pension scheme for 1.36 lakh government employees, the release of an 11 percent dearness allowance for employees and pensioners and an increase in police diet allowances to Rs1,000. These measures reflect the state’s improving financial health.

Sukhu said that the steps were also taken to strengthen the rural economy and the government has introduced schemes like purchasing cow milk at Rs. 45 per litre, buffalo milk at Rs. 55 per litre, maize at Rs.30 per kg and wheat at Rs. 40 per kg. Apart from this the MNREGA daily wages were also increased from Rs. 240 to Rs. 300.

He criticized the previous government for failing to equip hospitals, stating that the BJP government converted hospitals across the state into referral centres by failing to install essential equipment, such as an MRI machine in Ner Chowk Hospital. Apart from this the present state government has started Mukhyamantri Sukh Aashray Yojana to support 6,000 orphan children and provide education for 23,000 children of widows under the Mukhyamantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana.

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that Himachal Pradesh was poised to lead in ropeway projects, with the Shimla ropeway to be constructed with an outlay of Rs. 1,750 crore was set to become the second-largest in the world. He said that the construction work on ropeways at Rohtang, Bijli Mahadev, Baba Balaknath and Chintpurni was also started. He said that the ropeways would enhance the connectivity and would provide better experience to the tourists visiting the state.  Apart from this the government was planning to procure 1,000 new buses for HRTC, including 350 electric buses and the introduction of tempo travelers which would enhance public transport in the state.


CM dedicates Mata Baglamukhi Ropeway in Mandi District

Earlier, Sukhu inaugurated the State-of-the-Art Mata Baglamukhi Ropeway in Mandi district. The ropeway located on Chandigarh-Manali National Highway connects Pandoh to Mata Baglamukhi Temple in Bakhli and was expected to significantly boost tourism in the region. He said that with a total length of 800 meters and constructed at a cost of Rs. 53.89 crore, the project was a marvel of modern engineering. Built to European CEN standards the ropeway features a line speed of 6 meters per second (21.6 km/hr) and can carry up to 600 passengers per hour. He said that it bypasses 14 kilometers of road travel and offers more efficient and scenic alternative for devotees and tourists.

Sukhu said that the Mata Baglamukhi ropeway was the only one in the state that operates over a water body, the Pandoh Dam reservoir. The breathtaking journey in gondolas suspended above the serene waters provides passengers with majestic views of the surrounding hills and the tranquil reservoir below. He added that “This unique feature adds to the excitement of the ride, making it a standout attraction.”

The ropeway was expected to significantly increase the footfall at the Mata Baglamukhi Temple which was one of the most sacred pilgrims in the state. He said that the ropeway enhances access to the nature park developed by the Forest Department on the opposite side of the highway. This dual attraction was anticipated to draw tourists particularly those visiting popular destinations like Kullu-Manali, Kasol and Lahaul-Spiti.