After three decades of wait, Ranchi’s every nook and cranny has been finally put on a map with utmost precision and with right set of coordinates to depict every inch of the capital. The second edition of the map was unveiled by Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Friday as he asserted that it will help in realising the dream of ‘Digital India’.
The map has been prepared by a 12-member team headed by Major-General BD Sharma, additional surveyor-general and chief of Survey of India Jharkhand and nine specialist surveyors at Jharkhand Geo-Spatial Data Centre, under Survey of India. The map covers roads, highways, localities, landmarks, including educational hubs, hospitals and nursing homes, hotels, the airport and railway station, cultural centres, stadiums, tourist spots in and around the city, among others. The project has cost the state `2 crore.
“This map will help a great deal in realszing the ‘Digital India’ dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It will also help in obtaining information about damage to crops and awarding compensation. Earlier, damage assessment was done at block level; now it can be done at Panchayat level. This map can be used during natural calamity,” said Das, adding “maps for other areas would be prepared on the pattern of Ranchi Guide Map”.
The 80cm long and 100cm wide map will be available to buyers at `150 a piece from sales counter at Survey of India Jharkhand office situated at Doranda. A similar map was prepared back in 1983 by Survey of India. The unveiling ceremony was attended by Additional Surveyor Major General BD Sharma, and Director Joy Kangari.
In the backdrop of the guide, the CM sung paeans to the natural beauty of Jharkhand and asserted that there is ample possibility of promoting tourism in the State. Das expressed that tourism is being given the status of industry; cultural tourism is being promoted in the state and research students who visit Jharkhand to know about mines & minerals are also being linked with tourism. It will create employment and boost up prosperity, said Das.
Significantly, Das stated that `50-crore will be earmarked under ‘Start-Up India in 2016-17’ to boost entrepreneurship among youths and State government is working on skill enhancements of youths.