Smart City panel’s first meeting tomorrow

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 14

A seven-member Board of Directors (BoD) of Shimla Smart City Limited will meet for the first time on January 16. The members are expected to take a call on hiring a consultant for preparing detailed project reports (DPR) of 52 different projects to be undertaken in the capital city under the Smart City Mission.

The Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) recently registered Shimla Smart City Limited as mandated under the National Smart City Mission. Both the SMC and the state government has 50 per cent stake each in the company.

Prashant Sirkeck, Additional Commissioner, SMC, said decision would also be taken on the appointment of staff, chief executive officer and the opening of a bank account.

Sources said these were four basic conditions to get the first instalment of Rs 500 crore from the Ministry of the Urban Development.

Prashant Sirkeck further said after the consultant’s appointment, some of the proposed 52 projects might be merged. The BoD is likely to discuss the fallout of the NGT order on the proposed smart city projects.

The Urban Development Department and the SMC have identified 52 projects under the Rs 2,905.79 crore Shimla Smart City Mission plan. It was on the basis of this plan that the ministry selected Shimla city under the National Smart City Mission.

As per the smart city plan submitted to the ministry, the SMC wants to rebuild the old Lower Bazaar , construct traffic tunnels, escalators and e-public toilets, besides ensuring water supply. It has also been proposed to earmark new parking lots and construct pedestrian paths to facilitate tourists as well as local residents.