Tunnels and widening of roads to decongest Shimla, says CM

Shimla, June 22 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said five new tunnels besides widening the existing major and arterial roads, bypasses will ensure the smooth movement of vehicular traffic in Shimla town.

Presiding over the first meeting of the state level steering committee here, he said Sanjauli bypass was under construction while Kufri Panthaghati-Taradevi, Tutu-Kuftadhar-Naldehra, Ghannahatti-Jubbarhatti-Shoghi bypass would be constructed in the next phase.

Mr Singh said more tourist spots would be developed and possibilities would be explored to adopt alternate means of transportation like cable cars, ropeways and monorails.

Overhead bridges and subways would also be constructed for the convenience of the pedestrians, he said.

He said the government was also considering a proposal for the construction of ropeways from Dhingu Temple to Jakhoo Temple, Jakhoo Temple to Sankat Mochan via Ladies Park and Bus Stand, Sankat Mochan to Taradevi and Tara Devi to Kamna Devi temple.

The existing airport at Jubbarhatti would also be expanded to accommodate landing of bigger planes.

Mr Singh said bigger commercial complexes were likely to be shifted to more convenient locations with a view to help them function more conveniently in a phased manner besides constructing more parking lots in and around Shimla town.

He said more elevators connecting the Mall Road would also be constructed besides construction of solid waste management plant.

Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said efforts were on for the integrated development of basic services to the urban poor in the cities covered under the Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JLNURM).

UNI AS HS MA KN1950