Jathia Devi near Jubbarhatti set to become smart hill town

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 16

If all goes as planned, Jathia Devi in Shimla district, is set to become the country’s first ‘smart hill town’.

The state is likely to sign an MoU with the Singapore government on February 27 to build the smart town on 450 bighas.

The Singapore government has agreed to invest Rs 2,500 crore on the project aimed at decongesting the capital city.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh stated this at a review meeting of the Shimla Municipal Corporation today. Urban Development Minister Sudhi Sharma, vice-chairman of the HPTDC Harish Janartha, Chief Secretary VC Pharka, Additional Chief Secretary Manish Nanda, Municipal Commissioner Pankaj Rai and other officials were in attendance. Himachal is proposing to set up the smart town between Shoghi and the Jubbarhati airport. Sources said HIMUDA had already acquired land there.

The Chief Minister said the smart hill town would have all facilities.

Urban development Minister Sudhir Sharma said HIMUDA had already acquired about 300 bighas from locals and 160 bighas from the government.

He said the town had an easy access to the Jubbarhatti airport. “It will have a special economic zone (SEZ), international education zone, integrated townships, an entertainment zone, a convention centre, parks and shopping malls,” Sharma said.

He added that the new smart town would be located at Jathia Devi between Shoghi and the Jubbarhatti airport.