Himachal Government will explore possibilities to construct alternative roads in Shimla town to ease out the traffic pressure on the circular road.
A new alternate road from Hotel Holiday Home (HHH) to Directorate of Education through Krishna Nagar will also be constructed and it would be further linked with the National Highway, said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while presiding over the review meeting on parking, parks, and playgrounds in Shimla town, here on Tuesday.
Stressing the need to develop more alternative roads from circular road, he said there was scope to construct road from Dhobi Ghat to Malyana and Ruldu Bhatta to Shankli.
He directed the Urban development and Public Works departments to explore the possibilities and prepare a comprehensive plan for construction of these link roads within 15 days. “A committee would be constituted for earlier execution of alternative road from HHH for which Urban Development department will work as nodal agency”, said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister also directed authorities to identify spots on circular road where there was scope for widening of road. The district administration, Municipal Corporation, PWD and UD would jointly execute the work and start widening work immediately where land acquisition was not required. He also asked to shift the store of Electricity Board to some suitable place.
He said that 50 link roads in different wards of Shimla Municipal Corporation area had been identified for widening and improvement for which adequate funds would be provided. Besides, the beautification and renovation works would be taken up at Rani Jhanshi Park on the Mall and Rani Park near Pari Mehal in Kasumpti area.
The Chief Minister said Sabzi Mandi of Shimla town would be re-developed and directed the authorities to expedite the project so that optimum use of the area could be ensured. Virbhadra Singh said that four parking slots were being constructed to provide parking facility to the local people and the tourists. These include parking slot at Sanjauli for 400 vehicles, at Chhota Shimla for 250 vehicles, at lift for 700 vehicles and at Vikas Nagar for 175 vehicles.
He added that parking at Chhota Shimla had been constructed while parking facility for 250 vehicles had also been made available at Sanjauli parking. He also directed the authorities to remove the un-authorized parking up to 300 metres from the main parking in Sanjauli on both sides of the circular road and also to remove the construction material on the main road to ensure smooth plying of the vehicles.
More parking spaces should be marked with yellow line in the city to provide parking facility at nominal rates. Yellow spots had been identified so far for parking of 845 vehicles, he added.
The Chief Minister also asked the concerned authorities to restore all the tennis courts in the town so that it could be utilized for sports activities.