Himachal Pradesh Breaks Ground on Rs 2,071 Crore Bulk Drug Park in Una, Bets Big on Pharma Self-Reliance
Spread across 1,405 acres and backed by nearly Rs 1,000 crore from the Centre, the Polian Bulk Drug Park is expected to attract Rs 8,000 to 10,000 crore in investment and create 20,000 jobs — but the real test will come when MoUs are signed in June and construction timelines are met
SHIMLA / UNA, APRIL 11, 2026
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday laid the foundation stone for the site development and infrastructure works of the Bulk Drug Park at Polian in Una district, marking the formal beginning of ground-level construction on a project that the state government describes as one of national importance and a potential turning point for India’s pharmaceutical self-reliance.
The Rs 2,071 crore project, spread across 1,405 acres, is being partially funded by the Government of India, which is contributing approximately Rs 996.45 crore in central assistance. The remaining amount will be borne by the Himachal Pradesh government. The park is being implemented by Himachal Pradesh Bulk Drug Park Infrastructure Limited under the Department of Industries, and has received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, accorded on September 25, 2025.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan and other senior dignitaries were present at the foundation stone laying ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Sukhu said the Bulk Drug Park would enhance Himachal Pradesh’s position as a major pharmaceutical manufacturing hub and generate large-scale employment for the state’s youth. He expressed satisfaction at the progress made so far and directed that the pace of work be accelerated. He also announced that MoUs with leading pharmaceutical companies from across the country would be signed in June, signalling that investor commitments are expected to materialise in the near term.
The park is designed around the manufacture of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients — the core chemical compounds that form the basis of finished medicines. India currently imports a significant proportion of its API requirements, primarily from China, and the Bulk Drug Park initiative is part of a national strategy to reduce that dependence. If fully realised, the Una park is expected to attract investments of Rs 8,000 to 10,000 crore and create employment for up to 20,000 people, transforming Una district into a significant node on India’s industrial map.
The infrastructure being put in place is substantial. On the water supply side, Deputy CM Agnihotri said the Jal Shakti Vibhag is implementing comprehensive water infrastructure works, with Rs 68.49 crore already released for projects that include provision of 15 MLD water supply through borewells, construction of tube wells, collection tanks, pump houses, control houses and an extensive pipeline network. Several key components, including tube wells and main pumping machinery, have already been completed. A water sustainability initiative comprising rooftop rainwater harvesting systems and recharge pits is also being put in place to promote long-term conservation.
On the power side, Industries Minister Chauhan said infrastructure works are progressing steadily, with Rs 32.76 crore released through HPSEBL and HPPTCL. Transmission infrastructure and protection works are nearing completion to ensure reliable and uninterrupted power supply for industrial operations.
Site development works are being executed by M/s Ceigall India Ltd. Formation cutting is in progress over approximately 16 hectares, while tree-felling operations — carried out strictly in accordance with statutory and environmental clearances — are underway across nearly 50 hectares. So far, 1,109 trees have been felled under approved clearances.
The park’s planned infrastructure includes a specialised steam generation system comprising six multi-fuel boilers, each with a capacity of 50 tonnes per hour, collectively generating 300 tonnes of steam per hour for API manufacturing. A 5 MLD Common Effluent Treatment Plant with Zero Liquid Discharge technology, a dedicated Centre of Excellence, and a Hazardous Waste Management System with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year are also part of the design — reflecting an emphasis on environmentally responsible industrial development.
Also on the occasion, CM Sukhu laid the foundation stone for a Working Women Hostel at Panjuana, at an estimated project cost of Rs 8.28 crore. The hostel will provide accommodation for 50 working women employed in nearby industrial areas, offering safe and comfortable living facilities.
Himachal Pradesh already holds a significant position in India’s pharmaceutical landscape, with established industrial clusters in Una, Baddi, Nalagarh and Paonta Sahib. The Bulk Drug Park is intended to deepen that presence by enabling backward integration — allowing the state to move up the pharmaceutical value chain from finished formulations to the manufacture of the raw chemical ingredients that go into them.
Present at the occasion were HPSIDC Vice-Chairman Anurag Sharma, MLA Sudarshan Bablu, former MLA Satpal Singh Raizada, Himachal Pradesh State Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman Kuldeep Kumar Dhiman, and representatives of the Haroli, Una, Tahliwal and Gagret industry associations, as well as the Himachal Drug Manufacturers Association.
