Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today performed foundation stone laying ceremony of a pilot housing project under Rajiv Awas Yojna in Krishnanagar (Shimla) for construction of 300 residential houses at a cost of Rs. 34 crore. A Community Centre, Park, Library, Old Age Home, Dispensary and De-Addiction Centre will also be constructed under the Scheme.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that all 87 earmarked slum habitations would be covered under the Scheme to make Shimla slum free city. This project would be completed in next two years and 224 needy families would be allotted houses in the first phase whereas 76 houses would be given on rental basis. He said that three sites had been identified for construction of 300 houses in Krishnanagar.
The Chief Minister said that State Government was giving special emphasis on providing better facilities and services to the local residents and tourists. He said that solid waste management project had been set up at Bhariyal on Tara Devi-Tutu road which has capacity of 100 metric tonne per day. Construction of a sanitary land fill site at Bhariyal was also under consideration for scientific management of solid waste. He said Shimla Municipal Corporation would implement Rs. 11.20 crore e-governance project which aimed at providing 22 modules including e-payment of taxes and other user charges. He said that 176 residential houses were being constructed at a cost of Rs. 14 crore under Ashiyana-II project in a phased manner. 40 houses had already been constructed by HIMUDA in Dhalli. He said that four parking slots were being developed under PPP mode in Shimla town which would provide parking facility to 1500 vehicles in Sanjauli, Chhota Shimla, Lift and Vikasnagar. Besides, 87 more parking slots had also been identified in the town. A commercial complex would also be constructed near Lift at a cost of Rs. 3.71 crore which would house 222 shops.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that Congress Government was committed for the welfare of the poor and down trodden sections of the society. He said that Congress Party believed in uniform development and welfare of all sections and providing equal opportunities to all to excel and progress in life.Urban Development Minister, Shri Sudhir Sharma said that State Government was endeavouring to develop all towns of the State by providing basic amenities. He said that State Government would also implement Rajiv Awas Yojna in Nagar Parishads and Nagar Panchayats for providing better housing and other facilities to the slum dwellers.
He said that Shimla Municipal Corporation was working on Rs. 250 crore project under Rajiv Awas Yojna to make Shimla city slum free. He said that survey of 1110 houses had been done in the city out of which 224 families had been chosen in first phase while rest 886 beneficiaries would be provided basic amenities in the second phase.Mayor, Shimla Municipal Corporation Shri Sanjay Chauhan, Councillors, former Mayor Shri Sohan Lal, former Deputy Mayor Shri Harish Janaratha, Director, Urban Development Department Smt. Meera Mohanty, Deputy Commissioner Shri Dinesh Malhotra, Commissioner, Shimla Municipal Corporation Shri Amarjeet Singh and other senior officers were present on the occasion.