Finish Rs 145-crore utility duct project in Shimla promptly, CM tells PWD

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today reviewed the ongoing construction work of utility ducts being built along an around 7-km stretch from Chotta Shimla to Willies Park at a cost of Rs 145 crore and directed Public Works Department (PWD) officers to complete the project at the earliest.

Sukhu, while chairing a meeting, said that the construction of the ducts from Chotta Shimla to Oak Over was almost complete and should be finished within the next 15 days. He added that the tarring of the road and the installation of streetlights should be completed promptly.

“Shimla is not only the capital city but also a major tourist destination of Himachal Pradesh, so it must retain its charm,” said the Chief Minister. “A city free from the clutter of overhead cables will provide a better experience to tourists. This project is being implemented with an objective to further boost tourist inflow into Shimla,” he added.

The utility duct network would extend from Chotta Shimla to Willies Park, Secretariat via Raj Bhavan to Oak Over and from Sher-e-Punjab through Lower Bazaar up to the CTO. These ducts would accommodate underground electric and water lines along with other utility cables.

MLAs Harish Janartha (Shimla city) and Suresh Kumar (Bhoranj) along with senior PWD officers attended the meeting.