Shimla4 hours agoAuthor: Jogendra Sharma
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30 projects have not started in Shimla yet, work is to be done on 117 projects, 216 crores is to be spent.
The people who are looking forward to make Shimla a smart city from the year 2017 will have to wait longer. In three years only 14 projects have been completed so far. Out of a total of 117 projects, 73 projects are in progress, while there are 30 projects on which work has not started. These include works like widening of roads, shops made for tahbazaris, foot over bridges.
Tenders have not yet been floated for 30 projects. First their codal formalities will be completed, only then these works can be started. Under Smart City, instructions have been given to the contractors to expedite the ongoing works in various areas of the city, but the work is being done at a slow pace. It is directed that the contractors will have to complete the work within the prescribed limit.
Work started in the year 2017 to make Shimla smart
These works under Smart City were started in 2017, but after three years, now only 14 works have been completed. An excuse is being made by the Urban Development Department, due to the corona epidemic, these works could not be completed on time.
Many works are hanging due to forest clearance
Many works have come to a halt due to forest clearance. However, after the relief from the order of the Himachal High Court, now the hope of getting the work pending due to forest clearance has increased soon. Recently, the State High Court has removed the ban on cutting of trees after the permission of the competent authority in the municipal limits. After which the smart city management has also instructed all the departments to expedite the projects. At the same time, for the project, cases are yet to be made and sent to the forest department for granting permission to cut trees.
These works are to be done under Smart City
- This work will be done under the re-development proposal.
- Reconstruction of old building of DDU Hospital
- ice skating rink renovation
- Renovation of old bus stand, construction of park and museum
- Repair of Krishnanagar Middle School.
- Pavements, railings, vending areas for basements along the main roads
- New parking for 5000 vehicles, changes in water and sewerage system
This work will be done under retrofit proposal
- Development of 53 bus stops.
- Escalators, lifts from Cart Road to Mall Road.
- Underground ducting from fiber cables to electricity and telephones.
- Cart Road, Sanjauli, Old Bus Stand, Chhota Shimla to Kasumpti Road widening
- Conservation of 42 stepwells and channelization of 67 drains.
- Improvement of railway line, retrofitting of buildings of historical importance on Mall Road and Lower Bazar.
All the works under Smart City are being completed expeditiously. Out of 117 projects started at a cost of Rs 216 crore, 14 projects have been completed. The city did not see any reduction in the pace of works even during the rainy season and efforts are being made to complete these works even during the continuous rains. Strict instructions have been given to the officials to get the contractors to work within the prescribed limit.
Manmahan Sharma, Director, Urban Development Department