Shimla : A prominent building on Shimla’s iconic Mall Road is set for a major transformation, with Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu virtually laying the foundation stone for the comprehensive renovation of Sahakar Sadan, the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank building.
The renovation project, estimated to cost ₹2.85 crore, is aimed at giving the old multi-storey structure a modern identity while creating better facilities for employees and visitors. The work is targeted for completion by June 15, 2027.
Sahakar Sadan is a distinctive building in the heart of Shimla, extending from Mall Road towards Lower Bazaar Road. Under the renovation plan, its individual floors will be redesigned and reorganised to meet contemporary functional requirements. The government has described the project as an effort to give a “new lease of life” to the ageing structure.
The proposed makeover goes beyond cosmetic improvements. The building will be equipped with modern workspaces, improved visitor facilities and infrastructure designed to make its functioning more efficient.
The mezzanine floor will feature modern workstations along with redesigned cabin partitions. On the ground floor, a new reception workstation and an advanced screening area will be created, providing a more organised entry and visitor-management system.
Basement-1 will be converted into a more functional working space, with a conference hall and additional workstations. Basement-2 will have a dedicated crèche for children, an employee-oriented facility intended to make the workplace more supportive for staff with young children.
Basement-3 will be provided with modern infrastructure and a properly organised storage area, allowing the building to make more effective use of its existing space.
Chief Minister Sukhu said the renovation forms part of a wider effort to modernise the infrastructure of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank. The bank, he noted, is among the leading cooperative banking institutions in the state and has been working to provide modern and reliable banking services to people across Himachal Pradesh.
The renovation of Sahakar Sadan is therefore being positioned not merely as an upgrade of an old government-linked building, but as part of the bank’s broader modernisation programme, which also involves upgrading older branches and other buildings.
The project also reflects the challenge of modernising public infrastructure in a city such as Shimla, where buildings often have to accommodate contemporary requirements within older structures and constrained urban spaces. Sahakar Sadan’s location between two of the city’s major commercial thoroughfares makes its redevelopment particularly significant.
Once completed, the renovated building is expected to provide a substantially improved working environment while retaining its important location and institutional role.
The foundation-laying ceremony was attended by Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, MLAs Sanjay Awasthy and Ram Kumar, Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank Chairman Devinder Shyam, HIMUDA Vice-Chairman Yashwant Chhajta and senior officials and directors of the cooperative bank.
With the completion deadline set for June 15, 2027, the project will now enter its execution phase. For Shimla, where the pressure on existing urban infrastructure continues to grow, the redevelopment of Sahakar Sadan represents an attempt to bring an older public building in line with the demands of a modern administrative and banking workplace.
The broader significance of the project lies in combining preservation of an established institutional building with modern functionality. Rather than replacing the structure, the government plans to reconfigure and upgrade it, turning an ageing facility on one of Shimla’s most recognisable streets into a contemporary workplace equipped with modern amenities.
