The India Post, Chandigarh, 15th December,2008 :UT Home Secretary, Mr. Ram Niwas today in a meeting of Rotary Club, Chandigarh highlighted the array of projects being undertaken by the Chandigarh Administration for the betterment of the City Beautiful. In the meeting he shared his thoughts on "Chandigarh today and tomorrow".
While addressing the august gathering he said that the major challenge the UT Administration is facing, is the development of the city, along with upholding the basic culture and tradition of the city. The biggest dilemma is maintaining a balance between the culture and development, averred Mr. Niwas.
Mr. Niwas concerned of the ever-growing traffic congestion in the city, where about 7 lakhs vehicles are already registered and around 40,000 vehicles are added every year, said that the administration has already initiated the project of widening of roads. He apprised the Rotarians that the planning for constructing 11 underpasses is at its advanced stage and Chandigarh Housing Board is looking into it. He further informed that the Administration has assigned the task of preparing a detailed report regarding the Traffic Movement in the city to RITES which would help in developing a better Traffic Management design.
Home Secretary also enlightened the Rotarians regarding the Road Widening projects undertaken in the Industrial Area Phase I. He apprised that an estimate of about Rs. 30-40 crores have been outlined for the carpeting of roads in this area. The work relating to the shifting of poles is at advance stage. Five new parkings have been developed in the Phase I to resolve the parking problem in the area, averred Mr. Niwas.
He further highlighted the projects including the Vocational Training Center for the Street Children at Maloya which would accommodate about 1000 children after its completion, Home for Disabled at Sector 46, Mega project at Sector 31 for the Mentally Retarded which will be inaugurated at the end of February. He also apprised Rotarians about the Half Way Home for the Mentally Challenged people with a concept of accommodating Mentally Challenged people who have been abandoned by their families or does not have anyone to look after them.
Besides these all major projects there are some ventures like Education city, Medi City and Film City which are in the advance stage. These prestigious and visionary projects will help in shaping a superior destiny of the city, added Mr. Niwas.