Rent for Aajivika Bhawan shops cut by 50%

Shimla, August 20

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The Shimla Municipal Corporation has decided to reduce the rent of shops in Aajivika Bhawan, near the lift, by 50 per cent. Against the earlier rent of Rs 5,000 a month, the shopkeepers will now be charged Rs 2,500, excluding the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The MC will also hike the rent by 10 per cent every year.

The decision was taken during the meeting of Finance Contract and Planning Committee (FCPC) that was held under the chairmanship of the Mayor, Surender Chauhan, here today.

The Mayor said street vendors who had been allotted the shops were demanding a relaxation in the rent as their business was not running well.

He said considering the demand, the civic body had decided to come up with a proposal to cut the rent amount. An approval for the same was granted in today’s meeting of the committee.

Located near the lift, the foundation stone of this five-storey complex was laid by the then Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in 2014. The construction work was completed in 2022 and the building was inaugurated by then CM Jai Ram Thakur.

The shopping complex was constructed to shift shopkeepers from the Tibetan Market located at the Lakkar Bazaar as well as to rehabilitate various street vendors, who were conducting business near the lift and in the old Tibetan market. Around 146 shops, located in this complex, were allotted to shopkeepers.

The FCPC also gave its nod to construction of ambulance roads in various wards of the town. Besides, the MC also gave its nod to construct a dispensary, along with a public toilet, in Krishna Nagar Ward at a cost of Rs 12.21 lakh, fulfilling the longstanding demand of the residents.