Relaxation demanded for setting up Urban Mobility Transport Authority

Top officials of the Himachal Pradesh Government and Union Urban Development Ministry will hold high level meeting in New Delhi on 26th November next to discuss the pending projects of the State. 

This was disclosed by the Urban Development Minister Shri Sudhir Sharma after meeting with Union Urban Development Minister Shri Kamal Nath in New Delhi. 

Shri Sudhir Sharma and Union Urban Development Minister Shri Kamal Nath will represent their respective sides to review the progress made in the Urban Development in Himachal Pradesh and discuss the pending projects submitted by state to expedite the urban development in the state and sanction the projects in time bound manner.

He requested the GoI to allow the state government to set up Urban Mobility Transport Authority in the state to streamline the transport network in the urban areas of the state under one umbrella.

Shri Sudhir Sharma also requested to provide relaxation for setting up Urban Mobility Transport Authority in hilly states of the country keeping in view of the tough geographical and topographical conditions. He said since the activities under JNURM had been extended to small towns and municipal limits hence the GoI should give relaxations to set up Urban Mobility Transport Authority in all hilly states to streamline the activities under the scheme. It would help to provide dedicated services to urban commuters keeping in view of their separate transport needs and hectic life style .

He apprised the union minister that state had already submitted DPRs of the various development projects in the state which meet the full criteria fixed by central government in this regard.

He demanded liberal funding for urban transport network in the state keeping in view of the rapid migration to urban areas of the state due to massive industrialization in the recent years. 

Shri Kamal Nath assured that central govt will relax the norms to set up Urban Mobility Transport Authority in hilly states and also assured full co operation from central government for overall development of urban areas of the state.

Chief Minister reviews proposals under JNNURM

Chief Minister, Shri Virbhadra Singh reviewed the status of proposals submitted for executing various development projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) for Shimla Municipal Corporation area. He was presiding over the State Level Steering Committee Meeting under JNNRUM here today. Shri Virbhadra Singh said that road improvement, widening and strengthening from Old Barrier near Tourist Information Centre on Ciruclar road via Victory Tunnel upto Bemloie with estimated cost of Rs. 50 crores should be incorporated for Government of India (GoI) funding under JNNURM. Chief Minister also reviewed the proposals to the tune of Rs. 68.74 crore for improvement of storm water drainage system and improvement of roads in Shimla town during the meeting. Shri Virbhadra Singh directed the Engineer–In-Chief, Public Works Department to prepare the estimates as per requirements of JNNURM for further submission to GoI within 15 days. He also reviewed the status of proposals prepared for other Urban Local Bodies amounting to Rs. 269 crore for nine water supply schemes and sewerage schemes amounting to Rs. 112 crore. He directed the Urban Development Department to ensure that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) submitted to the GoI were processed at earliest. Urban Development, Housing and Town & Country Planning Minister Shri Sudhir Sharma, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Shri V.C. Pharka, Secretary Urban Development and Town & Country Planning, Shri K. Sanjay Murthy, Engineer-In-Chief Public Works Department were present in the meeting. Via: Department of Information & Public Relations, Himachal Pradesh.

HP to get 1,000 new buses under JNNURM scheme

At least 1,000 new buses will be provided to Himachal Pradesh under the Centre's Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission(JNNURM) scheme to strengthen the communication and transport facilities between its local and urban areas.
"1,000 buses are provided under JNNURM scheme by the Centre to promote public transport and to reduce traffic congestion and pollution," state Urban Development minister Sudhir Sharma told reporters here today. "Once the buses are handed over to Himachal it will cater to the local communication needs of the municipal areas and these will not be given to Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC)," Sharma said.

The Union government had provided few buses to Shimla a couple of years back but they were handed over to HRTC, the minister said.
"The Union government is spending more than Rs 4,900 crore to provide 14,695 buses for the various mission cities under JNNURM. The buses supplied to the cities and hill states are of mid-size category for an easier travel," he informed.