Transport nagar yet to come up at Solan

Stone laid in 2018

• Its foundation stone was laid by the Chief Minister in April 2018

• It was supposed to rehabilitate motor showrooms located at Chambaghat that were displaced due to the widening of the national highway

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, March 3

The flip-flop adopted by the state government to set up a transport nagar at the Kather bypass in Solan has inordinately delayed its construction.

Its foundation stone was laid by the Chief Minister in April 2018 and it was supposed to rehabilitate motor showrooms located at Chambaghat that were displaced due to the widening of the national highway.

Initially, the Urban Development Department was supposed to construct it and bear its cost pegged at Rs 21.22 crore. Even a detailed project report was prepared where it was decided that 135 showrooms and 140 workshops would be constructed on 15,417 sq m area at the Kather bypass in Solan. However, officials refused to execute it for lack of funds and other reasons. It was then referred to the state government which decided that the Transport Department would execute it.

With unavailability of adequate budget acting as a major handicap, the project made a little headway. At a recent meeting of senior officials at Shimla, it was decided that the Urban Development would execute the project, a senior official said.

He added that it would, however, be put up before the Cabinet.

Ramkumar Gautam, former Director, Urban Development, who relinquished charge today, said earlier the department had transferred the project to the Transport Department as per a Cabinet decision as they had the expertise to set up such a project. The requisite NOC was also granted by the Urban Development to the Transport Department to facilitate the transfer of land.

The delay is not only giving anxious moments to the displaced motor mechanics, many of whom had lost their jobs, but it has exposed poor planning and hasty foundation stone laying by the CM. Though workshop owners did receive compensation, the workers, who lost their jobs, have been worst-hit.

The issue of rehabilitation was taken up with the district administration by the stakeholders in 2014 soon after the receipt of the first notice from the land acquisition officer, but it has not helped in providing any alternative solution till now.

As per the initial design finalised, pre-fabricated structures were supposed to be constructed and each beneficiary was supposed to pay about Rs 5 lakh. Though the idea of setting up a transport nagar was conceived way back in 2010 and a detailed project report had also been prepared, it had failed to take shape. An amount of Rs 8 lakh had also been received for site development by the Municipal Committee in 2010.