Rs 1,600 cr for ropeways in Shimla, says Vikramaditya

Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh today said Rs 1,600 crore will be spent on setting up ropeways to provide better transport facilities to people in the state capital.

Speaking at the inauguration of a three-storey vehicle parking constructed at a cost of Rs 6.50 crore at Tutu, the minister said, “The parking lot will address the problem being faced by residents of the area as it has the facility to park about 80 to 100 vehicles.”

Rising above politics, taking along people of all regions and getting development work done is his priority, Vikramaditya said. He also heard public grievances during “Mantri Aapke Dwar” programme.

In the fourth phase of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, all remote areas of Himachal will be connected by roads, he added.

“With a view to addressing the problem of water shortage, the work on Rs 1,200 crore World Bank-funded Sutlej lift drinking water scheme at Chabba is in full swing,” he said. In the first phase, the work of lifting water from the scheme will be undertaken so that sufficient drinking water is provided to Shimla city.

The PWD Minister assured that all remaining settlements of the city will be connected with sewerage as the Forest Department has given approval to lay pipes in the Tutu area in view of the long-standing demand of the people of Tutu and Majyath. “Within the next month, the tender process will be completed and the sewerage work will be started,” he said.

He said Rs 20 lakh had been sanctioned for undertaking development works in the Tutu and Majyath areas during the last two-and-a-half years.

Shimla Mayor Surendra Chauhan said uniform development was being carried out in all wards of the city. He said parking lots for small vehicles will be constructed by selecting sites in every ward of the city so that residents can get the facility of parking their vehicles.