Dharamsala to transform into smart city

By Lobsang Tenchoe

DHARAMSALA, May 25: Dharamsala has been selected to be turned into a smart city by the Union Ministry for Urban Development.

Defined as ‘Divine Dharamsala’ in the proposal and listed third after Lucknow and Warrangle, Dharamsala was selected in the second list of smart cities mission announced yesterday by India’s Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu.

imagesDharamsala will be transformed into a smart city within five years along with 13 other cities selected in the second list and 20 cities selected in the first round.

“Smart City mission is running ahead of schedule. As per the initial plan, 40 cities were to be selected for funding during this financial year by July-August; of this we have already selected 33,” Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said yesterday while releasing the list.

A grant of Rs 1,000 crore in total and Rs 200 crore each year for the next five years has been sanctioned by Union government to transform Dharamsala into a Smart City.

After analysing the proposals sent by cities vying to transform into smart cities, the Union Ministry for Urban Development announces the list accordingly.

The proposal submitted by Dharamsala Municipal Corporation under Smart City scheme includes – 11 multilevel parking places, 10 puzzle parkings, bike-sharing stations at Bhagsunag, McLeodganj, Kotwali bazaar and Kachehri, 35 e-buses for local transport and two electrical charging stations.

The proposal also includes 120 bus shelters with public information system, route maps and safe lighting, 89.8 km additional foot paths in Dharamsala municipal corporation area, 60 smart kiosks, 100 public convenience centres, LED based lighting and streets varying from nine meter to 12 meter in size, rejuvenation centre and funicular at Bhagsunag, tree houses in forest areas for eco tourism, a convention centre and mountaineering and paragliding institute at McLeodganj.

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