The state government was mulling to develop Dharamsala into a ‘Smart City’ as it is an international tourist destination of the country.
Himachal Urban Development, Town and Country Planning Minister Sudhir Sharma said that the district will not only be developed as a Smart City, but also as a progressive and inclusive city of the country.
“Efforts would be made to project this city as cultural, spiritual and adventure hub for tourists,” he said while presiding over the high-level project appraisal meeting on Smart City, Dharamsala held in New Delhi today.
A team of ‘The Energy and Resource Institute’ (TERI) experts and State Urban Development officers participated in the meeting.
Sharma stressed on giving priority on components essential for an integrated and inclusive planning, sustainable mobility, water management and energy systems while finalizing the project proposal.
He also stressed for maintaining the environment and participation of local population in planning and implementation of the project and said that there was a need to develop new areas such as Indru Nag Hill near Dharamshala as International Conventional Centre to decongest the city and also to generate new economic activities.
The minister also pointed out that trekking route to Triund should also be included in the proposal and suggested that there was a need to develop separate material transport system and precaution must be taken on disaster management aspect as the area falls under earthquake-prone zone.
He informed that meeting of a high-level Steering Committee to finalise the project proposal will be held soon so that the application could be filled well in time for further competition.
A detail presentation was given by the team of experts of TERI, which has been assigned the task to prepare the proposal for Dharamshala Smart City.
The proposal has to be submitted to the Ministry of Urban Development by December 15 this year for further qualification of selection for Smart City in the Country.
Raina Singh, Project Investigator, TERI said that the team of experts will take care of all the suggestions and proposal would be prepared after the final consultation with the members of high powered Steering Committee constituted for the purpose.