Will come up over 20,000 bighas
TNR News Network
SHIMLA
In a major push towards planned urbanisation, the Himachal Pradesh government has announced plans to develop a new world-class city, to be named ‘Him Chandigarh’, near the Chandigarh border at Baddi.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made the announcement \fter inaugurating the second phase of the Citizen Connect Programme under the ‘Swachh Shehar, Samriddh Shehar’ initiative at Peterhoff in Shimla.
The Chief Minister said the proposed city would be developed over nearly 20,000 bighas, of which 3,400 bighas of land had already been identified. He added that more land would be arranged soon, as residents of three panchayats have agreed in principle to provide land for the project.
Consultants for planning and execution of the city will be appointed shortly. Sukhu said the city would be built with modern infrastructure and global standards, keeping sustainability and future urban needs in focus.
Multiple urban initiatives launched
During the programme, the Chief Minister launched several initiatives under the Urban Development Department, including the Rajiv Gandhi Laghu Dukandaar Sukh Kalyan Yojana, 15 Municipal Shared Services Centres, nine online services, the Chief Minister Urban Digital Identity Scheme, a reward scheme under the Swachhata Survey, the Central Business District at Hamirpur, and hydraulic parking facilities in Shimla.
He also distributed settlement letters to beneficiaries of the Dukandaar Yojana and award letters to self-help groups under the Amrit Mitra Yojana, while urban local bodies were honoured for outstanding work.
Focus on sustainable, tech-driven urban growth
Sukhu said Himachal Pradesh is moving steadily towards self-reliance and positive transformation. Keeping in view rising population, rapid urbanisation and evolving civic needs, the government is charting a new, inclusive and sustainable urban development roadmap. He said all citizen services are being made available on a single portal through the Him Seva Suvidha Portal, calling it a unique initiative in the country.
The Chief Minister announced that a Rs 400-crore shopping complex will be built at Shimla’s Sabzi Mandi, while Rs 150 crore will be spent on the beautification of Hamirpur town, including redevelopment of the old bus stand into a modern shopping complex. Projects worth Rs 707 crore approved under the Urban Development Department will be implemented soon, and additional facilities costing Rs 500 crore will be developed in Shimla city. Utility ducts on the pattern of Shimla Municipal Corporation will also be created in other municipal corporation areas.
