Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday launched an integrated digital platform titled the Unified Digital Calendar and Appointment Management System, marking a major step towards digitisation and transparent governance in Himachal Pradesh. The initiative has been introduced to streamline appointment scheduling, visitor management and official meeting coordination with the Chief Minister’s Office and senior government officials.
Alongside the new platform, the state government has also introduced a fully digital gate pass system at the Himachal Pradesh State Secretariat to simplify public access and reduce paperwork. The system is designed to generate downloadable digital gate passes automatically, significantly improving convenience for visitors meeting officials and the Chief Minister.
Under the new mechanism, visitors with prior appointments can receive digitally generated gate passes online, while those arriving without appointments will also be able to obtain passes directly at the reception counters. The digital system integrates advanced identity verification measures, including OTP-based authentication and Aadhaar-enabled facial verification, aimed at strengthening security while ensuring smooth public interaction.
Security personnel at the Secretariat will verify entry through barcode scanning on the digital gate passes, making the process faster, more transparent and technologically efficient. Officials said the initiative is expected to reduce delays, improve visitor management and eliminate dependence on manual paperwork.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the platform would act as the primary digital interface for the Chief Minister’s Office and also provide an efficient framework for managing the professional calendars of government officers across the state.
The Chief Minister said the initiative would serve as a “digital bridge” between the government and the public, ensuring greater accessibility, transparency and efficiency in official interactions. He added that departments would now be able to submit meeting requests through a centralised digital platform, making coordination more seamless and organised.
Once meetings are approved, the system will automatically synchronise schedules with the digital calendars of all concerned officers and departments. Instant notifications regarding meetings and appointments will also be sent to the respective officials and departments, helping improve administrative coordination and time management.
Earlier, while chairing a review meeting of the General Administration Department, the Chief Minister also reviewed facilities being provided at government guest houses including Himachal Bhawan, Himachal Sadan and Himachal Bhawan.
He directed officials to improve cleanliness standards and ensure the availability of nutritious and quality food for visitors staying at these establishments. The Chief Minister further instructed that maintenance and repair works of these properties would now be handled by the Public Works Department.
Emphasising the need for professional management of government facilities, the Chief Minister said a modern and service-oriented approach should be adopted to improve public convenience. He also directed that the digital initiative be implemented on a pilot basis at Himachal Bhawan in Delhi.
Reviewing the ongoing construction work of Himachal Niketan, the Chief Minister instructed officials to complete the project before June 15. He further directed that QR code-based payment systems be introduced for bookings at government accommodations to ensure hassle-free transactions for visitors. The same digital payment facility, he said, should eventually be extended to circuit house bookings across the state.
Senior officials including K.K. Pant, Devesh Kumar, Nipun Jindal and other officers participated in the meeting, reflecting the government’s continued focus on administrative reforms and digital governance initiatives.
