Real Estate Properties in Shimla

Shimla, or Simla, is popularly known as the Summer Refuge. It was a summer capital in the days of colonial rule, and remains an escape from the scorching summer heat even today. The year 1906 was pivotal in making the city what it is today. When the Kalka-Shimla railway line was laid in that year, it made the region more accessible.

Shimla has had the privilege of being undivided Punjab’s capital till 1971, after which Himachal Pradesh was separated from Punjab. The headquarters of the Shimla district is the city of Shimla. The city has many temples, palaces, and colonial architecture, attracting tourists from all over the world.

Agriculture, horticulture, and tourism are its main industries. The hilly region is covered by forests covering an area of 1,30,411 hectares, according to the records of the government of Himachal Pradesh. The large forests make a significant contribution to Shimla’s economy too.

Stats and Facts

• The population of Shimla is 1, 71,817 according to the provisional reports of the 2011 census
• As per the census 2011 reports, Shimla has a sex ratio of 818 per 1000 males, but the child sex ratio is 890 per 1000 boys
• The average literacy rate in the city is high 94.67%, of which female literacy is 95.75% and male 93.35%
• Allan Octavian Hume was living in Shimla, when he along with others, created the Indian National Congress, which played a vital role in India’s struggle for freedom. It was prominent town of colonial times having many colonial buildings
• The world famous MTB Himalaya mountain biking race takes places here every year, and has become one of South East Asia’s biggest events

Economy - Agriculture and Services Sector

• Shimla’s agricultural sector has evolved over the years to include horticulture, making it one of the largest cash crops in the district. Since the rough terrain doesn’t allow large tracts of land to be easily cultivated, poly houses have developed in the rural areas. The temperature controlled poly houses have helped improve the economic state of these regions
• Well-planned orchards have made Himachal Pradesh become the Apple State of India because of the huge production of high quality apples in Shimla
• Tourism has also grown over the years, with handicraft trinkets, improved telecommunications and the jaw-dropping beauty of Shimla, bringing in a large number of visitors to the region regularly
• Two minor minerals found here are building stone and sand, these are used for commercial purposes
• Forest produce like timber, charcoal, resin, medicinal herbs, bamboo and more play a vital role in the district’s economy
• The industrial sector is populated by a few small scale enterprises which are agro-based, steel fabrication, repairing and servicing, wood furniture, ready-made garments, embroidery and paper products
• The state government is also developing an IT park, on the recommendations of NASSCOM

Connectivity

• The nearest airport is about 23 km away, called the Jubbarhatti Airport, which offers flight services to Chandigarh, Delhi, Kullu, and Dharamsala. Harsh weather conditions sometimes cause the airport to be closed so Chandigarh airport is your next best option. Gaggal and Bhuntar airports are also in the state of Himachal Pradesh
• Kalka Junction Railway Station is the nearest broad gauge station serving the city, about six hours away. Shimla has a meter gauge station. The narrow gauge track between Shimla and Kalka is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Kalka Junction is connected to many major cities in India
• National Highway 22 (NH-22) connects Shimla to many towns and cities like Chandigarh, Ambala, New Delhi Road, and even Khab on the China border
• The Himachal Road Transport Corporation and other private agencies provide a wide variety of bus services to Shimla. Luxury buses are frequently available on this route
• The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation runs daily tourist buses here to handle tourist traffic. Local buses and taxis are also available for transport within Shimla

Shimla Civic Administration

• Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) takes care of civic administration for the city. It is a 145-year old body headed by a commissioner. The district is divided into 21 wards
• The corporation has 28 councilors, 25 are elected by the citizens of Shimla and three are nominated by the state government. The mayor and deputy mayor are also elected directly
• The district has been divided into 7 subdivisions for administrative purposes; they are Shimla Urban, Shimla Rural, Theog, Rampur, Chopal, Rohru, and Dodra Kwar
• The Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) handle urban growth and planning for Shimla. SMC handles urban and town planning
• The Shimla Police, under a division of the Himachal Pradesh Police, maintain law and order in the city through the 15 stations in Shimla

Shimla Infrastructure

The city in one among 63 identified for fast track development under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The city has a well-developed road and rail network, making the region easy to access. The city also inherited a wealth of historic buildings from the British era.

Educational infrastructure is also good, with institutes like the Institute of Hotel Management, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, and Indira Gandhi Medical College situated here. SMC has used public-private-partnerships to improve transport, public conveniences, sewerage and solid waste management.

Infrastructure Projects

Shimla Real Estate Market

• HIMUDA garnered the most number of applications for plots from Shimla, with 11,000 applications coming in under an older scheme. It is clear that affordable housing in a hill station is a worthwhile investment. More housing schemes are being formulated by the state development authority
• The upcoming IT park is going to be equipped with an international gateway for high-speed data communication. More top quality facilities are going to be integrated into the technology park, making it an attractive investment for software technology companies

Key Localities in Shimla

Other Key Localities

• Ballabhgarh
• Greenfield Colony
• Sector-86

Charges by Different Government Bodies

Property Registration

Stamp Duty: 5% of the market value of the property or consideration amount, whichever is higher

Registration Fee: 2% of the above amount, subject to a minimum of Rs. 5 and a maximum of Rs. 25,000

Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board

The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) is responsible for the supply of electricity to Shimla, as well as the rest of the state. HPSEB has also computerized their tendering system.

Electricity Tariff

Shimla Municipal Corporation – Water Supply

SMC and the state government departments work together to supply water in Shimla. The Himachal Pradesh government has implemented a scheme costing Rs. 516 crore to use water from the Kol Dam, on the Sutlej River, for the city of Shimla.

SMC charges Rs. 2.50 per thousand liters of water for domestic purposes; this includes a subsidy of 76.20%.

E-Governance Cell

Apart from computerizing all departments under the SMC, the e-governance cell plans to establish Sugam Centers around Shimla so that residents can access citizen services easily. A municipal account number will be given to each house owner in the region for property tax related activities.