The Changing Patterns of Infrastructure Development in Himachal Pradesh: An Inter-District Analysis

Infrastructure facilities are the most significant and necessary condition for the social and economic development of the people across the regions. The economy of Himachal Pradesh is widely affected by its rigorous physical topography and climatic condition, impacting its people and their lives. Where better and adequate infrastructure facilities are not only necessary but also significant for living in the state. But the inadequacy of these facilities in different regions and districts is a matter of great concern for the state. Therefore, the present study has attempted to examine the patterns of infrastructure development and inter-district disparities in Himachal Pradesh. All the districts of the state have been ranked according to their level of infrastructure development obtained with the help of relevant methods of deprivation index and development index comprising 18 indicators. The composite index and coefficient of variation have been employed for calculating the infrastructure development and its disparities, respectively. The district-wise data for all the indicators have been collected from secondary sources. The study revealed that districts Lahaul and Spiti, Solan, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Shimla and Una were more developed, while the districts Kullu, Chamba, Kinnaur, Sirmaur, Mandi and Kangra were comparatively less developed. Also, the study has found decreasing inter-district disparities over two decades. The present study helped in identifying infrastructurally backward districts of Himachal Pradesh, which will help in policy-making and economic development of the state.