Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur dedicated and laid foundation stone of developmental projects worth Rs. 63.06 crore in Shimla town, today. He inaugurated Ajeevika Bhawan constructed with an outlay of Rs. 10.50 crore. Chief Minister also laid foundation stone of stabilization of Ridge and development of open space with an expenditure of Rs. 33 crore and construction of parking for 200 vehicles near Auckland tunnel with an expenditure of Rs. 6.49 crore. He also laid foundation stone of development work of bus stand near Shri Gurudwara Sahib Shimla on which an expenditure of Rs. 6.86 crore would be made and parking facility for 250 vehicles would be provided. He laid foundation stone of construction work of parking for 150 vehicles in SDA Complex Kusumpati worth Rs. 6.21 crore.
While addressing the gathering at Ajeevika Bhawan, the Chief Minister said that the present state government has ensured unprecedented development of Shimla town. He said that a sea change development was being witnessed during the tenure of present state government. He said that unparallel development was being ensured with the synergy of centre and state government. Chief Minister said that the state government was implementing various developmental projects in Shimla Town under Shimla Smart City project with provision of State-of-Art amenities for local people and tourists visiting the state. He said that with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 760 crore, this project would ensure multi-faceted development of Shimla town with systematic construction. Jai Ram Thakur said that construction of 22 parking projects worth Rs. 120.30 crore were under progress under Shimla Smart City project in Shimla Town, which would provide additional parking of 2800 vehicles. The main parking areas that were being developed were near new block and auditorium of IGMC, Vikasnagar, Sankatmochan, SDA complex and Totu Bangla Colony. Expansion and improvement work of 12 kilometer road with an outlay of Rs. 95 crore under Shimla Smart City project was also being done, which would resolve the traffic jam issue on Cart Road. To facilitate the pedestrians of the town, a 17 kilometer footpath was being made with a cost of Rs. 73 crore.
Chief Minister said that to encourage e-mobility in the town, the process of purchase of 20 new e-buses worth Rs. 25 crore was under progress and e-charging stations with an expenditure of Rs. 3 crore would be setup. Solar power plant grid would be set up with a cost of Rs. 9 crore by HIMURJA under Smart City on government building to save electricity. Integrated Command and Control Centre would be set up at Shimla and Dharamshala with an expenditure of Rs. 65 crore under Smart City. This would provide 24×7 monitoring of facilities being provided to the citizens alongwith safety and security. An amount of Rs. 4 crore has been provided to Police Department for setting up CCTV cameras and purchase of traffic tools. Jai Ram Thakur said that to boost economy of the people of the state, 22 projects worth Rs. 106 crore of private and commercial sectors were being developed under Smart City project, which include modernization of book cafes, wedding zones and Ram bazaar, lower bazaar, sabzi mandi, etc. About 12 parks and open areas have been brought under Smart City in Shimla town, on which an amount of Rs. 12 crore was being spent. He said that smart classrooms would be developed in 11 Government Senior Secondary Schools and smart studio would be developed at Directorate of Education for which a provision of Rs. 7 crore has been made. Besides this, 47 projects worth Rs. 238 crore were being implemented under centre sponsored AMRUT Mission out of which work on 37 projects have been completed on which Rs. 172 crore have been spent.
Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj thanked Chief Minister for dedicating and laying foundation stones of development projects worth Rs. 63.06 crore in Shimla town and said that the town has witnessed unprecedented development. He said that innovative efforts were being made for systematic development of the Shimla town. He said that effective steps have been taken to resolve the issue of traffic jam in the town. He said that Shimla has been ranked best in the country in a survey conducted by NITI Aayog. He also urged the people to keep the town clean and beautiful. MP and State BJP President Suresh Kashyap said that today would always be remembered as a golden chapter in the developmental history of Shimla. He said that the state government was ensuring balanced and equitable development of all areas and every section of the society. Municipal Corporation Mayor Satya Kaundal welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries present on the occasion. She also detailed various development activities of Shimla town. MLA Chopal Balbir Singh Verma, Municipal Corporation Deputy Mayor Shailender Chauhan, H.P. State Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank Ltd. (HPSCARDB) Chairperson Shashi Bala, MC Shimla councilors, Deputy Commissioner Aditya Negi, Superintendent of Police Dr. Monica, Joint Commissioner Municipal Corporation Shimla Ajeet Bhardwaj, representatives of Veopar Mandal and other dignitaries were also present on this occasion.
