Jai Ram meets IIT Roorkee experts for restoration of sinking Ridge

SHIMLA : Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday met experts of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee to discuss plans of restoration and stabilisation of the sinking part of The Ridge in Shimla.

He said restoration work will not only help in beautification of The Ridge but also provide an appropriate place to erect the statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. A part of The Ridge near the Gaiety Theatre has been sinking for a while now and can result in a huge disaster if not restored in time.

The CM also visited the under construction heliport near Sanjauli to review the progress and directed concerned authorities to ensure its time-bound completion.

Thakur said the heliport is being constructed at a cost of ₹10.85 crore and will go a long way in strengthening helicopter services under the UDAAN scheme.

“The heliport will not only facilitate high-end tourists but will also be useful in case of emergency situations,” he added. He also directed authorities to explore possibilities of hanger facilities so that helicopters could be stationed there when not in use.

Thakur said the quality in construction must be ensured and adequate provisions for parking and other basic amenities should be made to facilitate users.

Later, the chief minister visited an under construction circuit house at Willy Park to review its progress. The circuit house is being constructed at a cost of ₹45 crore and will have 89 sets to provide better lodging facilities to state guests and tourists.

Thakur said the project is slated for completion by October this year. He said, “The circuit house will have all basic amenities like modern suites, lifts and adequate space for parking of the vehicles.”