Shimla has been included in the list of ‘Smart City’ along-with 28 other cities through the country, by Union Urban development Ministry", Government of India (GoI) today. The announcement was made in the third and the final list of ‘Smart City Mission’at the National Workshop on Urban Transformation in New Delhi today.
Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh congratulated the citizens of Shimla for the capital town being included in the ‘Smart City’ list and said that it was a moment to rejoice as the smart city tag would help better standardization and development of the people of the Shimla.
Chief Minister said that the government of Himachal Pradesh submitted its proposal to Ministry of Urban development GoI on 31st March, 2017. Smart City project would help provide better infrastructure like water supply, sewerage, storm water drainage, urban transport, e-governance, capacity building and institutional strengthening in the town, said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister said that the proposal sent to MoUD, incorporated the better management of public transport system, parking provisions besides pedestrian’s facilities. Besides, management of storm water and natural springs, rain water harvesting tanks in forest areas, redevelopment of zonal hospital, measures to mitigate fire and other hazards could now be efficiently met, as all these points were also mentioned in the proposal. He said that added priority would be given to develop eco-tourism, adventure sports activities, alternative modes of transportation etc.
He said that the smart city will also enable the legal in-situ rehabilitation of around 800 families presently living in slum areas.
Urban Development Minister Shri Sudhir Sharma, said that the Shimla submitted a Smart City proposal of Rs. 2906 crore. He said that out of the total proposal, Rs. 1252 crore was for re-development of Lower Bazar, Sabzi Mandi, Ganj and Krishnanagar, Rs. 1280 crore for retro-fitting of circular road and three transit corridors of the city, Rs 197 crore for plan-city application of traffic management and citizen security. Apart from this, solid and waste water management, building safety, disaster mitigation and open and recreational places would also get added attention for the facility of the people of Shimla.
Apart from incorporating the suggestions of 57 percent of the Shimla based citizens the proposal was discussed in ward meetings which were also approved by the Municipal Corporation, said the Minister. Besides this the Minister said that he met the Union Urban Development Minister, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu time and again to get Shimla included in list of Smart City. He thanked the Union Minister for including Shimla in Smart City.