HP to sign MoU with Singapore Govt. to build Smart hill town

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Himachal Pradesh would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Singapore Government on 27th February, to build first ‘Smart hill town’ of the Country near Jathiyadevi where 450 bighas of land was available. The Singapore Government have agreed to invest Rs 2500 crore for the same. This was revealed in a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Mr Virbhadra Singh to review progress of  various schemes being implemented by Municipal Corporation (MC) Shimla within the municipal limits.

 

The Smart Hill town will have all the facilities of International Standards. New planned settlements will be created so that population
aggregation at one place could be arrested and a more balanced distribution could be achieved. The Smart Hill town is expected to provide abundant opportunities in Hospitality, Health and Wellness and Education sector. The township would  have a special economic zone (SEZ), international education zone, integrated townships, an entertainment zone, a convention center, Parks, shopping malls etc.

 

Mr. Singh stressed to complete the ongoing works of beautification of town and the roads at the earliest. He said that Shimla being a State
capital needs to be given priority so that Shimla may be included in Smart City Mission. He appreciated the Shimla Mall road restoration
project and conservation of churches in heritage zone. He desired  that musical fountains be installed in the town, besides the process of Shifting vegetable market to Darni Ka Bagicha and the Anaaj Mandi (Grain Market) and Timber Market to Shnaan, Malyana should
be initiated as soon as possible.

 

The Chief Minister appreciated the renovation of Rani Jhansi Park and the fountains installed therein. He also appreciated the ongoing
renovation projects of roads and parks of Shimla besides lightening the streets and tunnels with LED lights. He said that the renovation of the town hall was being done in a planned manner and would be completed by June this year. He attributed the delay in construction as because the town hall was not vacated well in time despite repeated requests. “It was on my way to Vidhan Sabha in 2015, that strict orders were given to vacate the premises to pave the way for refurbishing of the gothic style structure”, said the Chief Minister.

 

The Chief Minister was also briefed about the ongoing work of multistory parking at Tutukandi and the ropeways within the town
including the one from Tutikandi to Mall Road. He was also briefed about the works being undertaken under Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban renewal Mission (JNURM) and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). The Chief Minister also urged for starting construction work of colony at Krishnagar and restoration of traditional water bodies (Bowdis) in Shimla town. The Chief Minister said that the foot bridges as announced should be completed soon.

 

The Chief Minister directed to utilize and run the shelter house for stray dogs at Tutkikandi in proper manner. He said that a veterinarian
along with other staff should be there to take care of stray dogs. As due to the case lying pending with the Supreme Court, due to petition
filed by Animal Welfare Board of India against judgment of Himachal High court for making Shimla stray dog free,  the MC was helpless in
controlling the menace of canines. The MC captured, sterilized and vaccinated 8512 stray dogs and released them as per rule. During last year 550 stray dogs were sterilized and vaccinated by MC Shimla.

 

Commissioner MC Pankaj Rai who presented 130 page presentation, said that the MC had recently constructed six rain shelters within its
Municipal limits and that too in traditional style and nine more were proposed Apart from this a Book café was under construction at Takka Bench, Ridge in Shimla. He said that the MC had decided to install five more e-toilets and water ATMs in 25 wards of Shimla.

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ML Verma is a Senior journalist, with more than a decade of experience of active reporting for electronic media, news agencies and fast paced online media.

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