Chandigarh is changing and that for good! ‘
All round we can find many new things coming up and we all can’t help beaming in pride the smart way Chandigarh is developing. On the second anniversary of the Smart City Mission launched by the Union Ministry of Urban Development, UT administrator VP Singh Badnore had as many as nine projects to kick off!
PROJECT 1: DEDICATED CYCLE TRACKS SHARED FOOT PATH↵
Construction of 90-km cycle tracks in across Chandigarh
OBJECTIVE: To encourage residents to adopt healthier and greener lifestyle. Given the rising health issues and deteriorating air quality levels in the city, cycles are the best option. Dedicated cycle tracks and footpath will ensure the safety of the pedestrians and cyclists on roads.
STATUS: A 9.2 km cycle track on Vigyan Path (the road dividing Sectors 4 and 9) has been constructed at the cost of ₹1.4 crore. It is open to use for the residents.
COMPLETION DATE: December, 2017
ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT: ₹18 crore
PROJECT 2:URBAN PARK NEAR NEELAM CINEMA IN SECTOR 17↵
Development of 60 acre land near Neelam Cinema into an Urban Park on the lines of Hyde Park in London
OBJECTIVE: The proposed Urban Park will boast cycle and walking tracks, skateboarding zones, amphitheatre, LED lighting, food courts and other recreational sports. Chandigarh is the city of gardens with one or two in each sector, but Urban Park will give Chandigarh an ethereal natural environment to spend quality time with family and friends rather than being enclosed in the air-conditioned bricked walls.
STATUS: The construction has started on June 25, 2017
COMPLETION DATE: July, 2018
ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT: ₹11.5 crore
PROJECT 3: SUB-WAY CONNECTING SECTOR 17 & ROSE GARDEN↵
Development of pedestrian underpass connecting Sector 17 Plaza and Rose Garden, Sector 16
OBJECTIVE: With the aim of rejuvenating the iconic Sector 17 and to develop it as hub of activities and provide easy access to visitors from Rose Garden to Sector 17, Chandigarh’s two iconic places.
- 1.5 acre land will be used.
- Golf carts and e-rickshaws way is planned.
- The walls of underpass will be studded with murals
- The underpass is proposed to connect near the Reserve Bank of India building.
STATUS: The construction has started on June 25, 2017
COMPLETION DATE: March, 2018
ESTIMATED COST OF THE PROJECT: ₹7 crore
PROJECT 4: PRE-BOOKING OF PARKING SLOT
Development of pedestrian underpass connecting Sector 17 Plaza and Rose Garden, Sector 16
OBJECTIVE: Though every Chandigarh market has a dedicated parking area, the visitors often struggle for parking space and to add to it, from the past one year the contract of parking lot collection has been unattended. To solve all these problems, all ticketing will be done by electronic machines at a lot connected to a central server. Thus, users can see the parking space available and book their slot before-hand
STATUS: Being implemented
CHANGED PARKING PRICES: From September 19, the parking rates will be ₹10 for 4 hours and ₹10 for every 2 hours thereafter.
PROJECT 5: CO-ORDINATION CENTRE AT PEC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Solid waste management, mechanised cleaning of roads, transport solution, grievance redressal
OBJECTIVE: To use the expertise of the University to easy control and monitoring of all the activities from one place.
STATUS: Being implemented
Total grant of Rs 296 crore has been released to Chandigarh Smart city limited (Rs 196 crore by the Centre and 100 crore by the UT administration). The Centre has appointed MC commissioner B Purushartha as chief executive officer of Smart city limited for a period of three years.
Also Read: Work On Two Major Projects In Sector 17 Under Smart City To Begin From June 25