Posted On:
06 SEP 2026 8:45AM by PIB Kolkata
Shimla, September 6, 2026
Press Information Bureau (PIB), Kolkata, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, concluded a five-day press tour of Himachal Pradesh for an eight-member media delegation from West Bengal today. The tour provided journalists with first-hand exposure to key central government initiatives, development projects and institutions in the state.
The delegation visited major infrastructure projects of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI); was briefed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Project Yojak and high-altitude infrastructure development; and the 126 MW Larji hydropower project . The journalists visited the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS).
The agricultural components of the tour included visits to orchards and interaction with stakeholders involved in natural farming practices at Naggar in Kullu district, including a natural farming project funded by the Union Government under the *ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency)* programme. The media delegation also visited the Highland Agricultural Research and Extension Centre (HAREC) in Lahaul and Spiti district, which undertakes major research initiatives such as the Consortium Research Platform on Agro-Biodiversity on Rajmash (CRP-AB Rajmash). HAREC also promotes climate-resilient, sustainable and natural farming practices suited to the dry temperate conditions of the region.
The delegation also interacted with the stakeholders involved in potato cultivation and marketing under Lahol Potato Society (LPS). At the ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) in Shimla, the delegation was briefed on potato research, quality seed production and modern technologies for enhancing productivity, including their relevance to potato-growing regions such as West Bengal.
The delegation also visited the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) and Army Heritage Museum at Annadale, Shimla and gained insights into military training, operational preparedness and India’s defence heritage. The journalists visited the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) and the historic Viceregal Lodge, and also called on the Governor of Himachal Pradesh.
The press tour is part of PIB’s ongoing media outreach programme aimed at facilitating informed and factual reporting on government policies, programmes and development initiatives. Such exposure visits provide journalists an opportunity to observe projects on the ground, interact with stakeholders and understand their implementation and impact.
The Himachal Pradesh tour enabled the West Bengal media delegation to gain a comprehensive perspective on development across diverse sectors, from connectivity and strategic infrastructure to agriculture, research, defence and cultural heritage. The first-hand experience gained during the tour will help strengthen evidence-based media coverage and facilitate wider dissemination of accurate information on development initiatives among the public.
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