Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today launched an ambitious project for restoration of the historic Town Hall, the posh Mall Road and the Ridge in state capital Shimla.
The Rs 30-crore project aims at complete restoration of the 1908-built Town Hall building, which houses the Shimla Municipal Corporation's office, without any change to its façade. The popular Mall Road and the Ridge will also be renovated.
The Chief Minister, who was accompanied by Vice-Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board (HPTDB) Vijay Singh Mankotia, said his government was committed to preserve the old heritage buildings of the state and every effort would be made to maintain magnificence of such buildings.
He said the Mall Road restoration project includes better road surfacing from CTO to Shimla Club, and all roads joining the Mall Road to The Ridge.
The beautification drive will also include proposals for maintenance of gardens and parks near Town Hall, Daulat Singh Park and Rani Jhansi Park, along with re-surfacing of the historic Ridge Maidan.
Besides, the Tourism Department has proposed to install directive, instructive and descriptive signage for heritage buildings and other places at all major junctions and along the roads to facilitate the visitors.
This would not only attract the tourists to visit Shimla town in numbers but would also add exquisiteness to the town.
The Chief Minister said the town would get a different and magnificent look during the night after illumination of the Gaiety Theatre, Town Hall, Scandal Point, Ashiana at The Ridge, Christ Church, State Library and Chinar Tree. Singh also inspected the design plans and map of the two projects.
Tourism Director Mohan Chauhan said his department has proposed to install three escalators adjacent to Khadi Building, Jain Dharamshala and Snow White Drycleaners.
He said laying of all underground cables of Electricity Board and telecom companies would be completed prior to surfacing of the roads on the Mall.
