Chief Minister Flags Off 66 Patrol Vehicles for 10 Districts; Announces Major Anti-Drug Campaign and Road Safety Command Center in Hamirpur.
Shimla:
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today flagged off 66 new patrol vehicles for deployment across ten districts of Himachal Pradesh, marking a significant step towards enhancing road safety and traffic management in the state. The vehicles, procured at a total cost of Rs. 18.42 crore, will be stationed at various police stations in Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur, Kullu, Sirmaur, Solan, and Chamba districts.
The new fleet includes 35 electric vehicles, 14 interceptor vehicles, 10 wrecker vehicles, and 7 four-wheel-drive diesel vehicles, reflecting the government’s focus on integrating modern technology with sustainable transport practices.
Addressing the gathering after the flag-off ceremony, Chief Minister Sukhu said the initiative was part of the state government’s broader goal to not only reduce road accidents but also to develop a safe and disaster-resilient transport system. He noted that the number of road accidents in Himachal Pradesh had shown a steady decline over the past three years due to the combined efforts of the police, transport department, public works department, Himachal Pradesh Road and Infrastructure Development Corporation, health department, and other allied agencies.
The Chief Minister added that the introduction of wrecker vehicles would ensure swift clearance of accident sites, enabling quicker restoration of normal traffic flow and minimizing road congestion.
Announcing a major infrastructure initiative, Sukhu revealed that the state government would soon establish a state-of-the-art Road Safety Control and Command Center in Hamirpur at an estimated cost of Rs. 30 crore. The advanced facility will form part of an integrated road safety enforcement system, linked to modern surveillance cameras being installed across the state. The system will facilitate e-challans, traffic monitoring, and enforcement of road discipline, significantly enhancing traffic management efficiency while also helping generate additional revenue for the state.
Highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts under the Himachal Pradesh State Road Transformation Project, the Chief Minister said that about Rs. 60 crore was being spent to procure 3,373 road safety enforcement devices for the police department. These devices will be distributed across 10 districts to further strengthen enforcement mechanisms and ensure safer roads.
Sukhu further stated that the government was committed to equipping the Himachal Pradesh Police with modern technology and infrastructure to make it one of the best police forces in the country. “As many as 1,200 constables have been recruited, and after eight years, the state government has restarted the B-1 test for police promotions,” he said.
He also announced that the police department would soon launch a major statewide campaign against drug abuse, reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance approach toward the growing menace. “The department is already doing commendable work to curb the drug problem, and this new campaign will further intensify the efforts,” the Chief Minister said.
Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Vice Chairman of the State Planning Board Bhawani Singh Pathania, MLAs Sanjay Awasthi, Neeraj Nair, and Vivek Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari, and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
The event marks another milestone in the state government’s efforts to modernize law enforcement, enhance road safety, and strengthen public security across Himachal Pradesh.
