Shimla MC polls: Congress, BJP vow to woo voters with development projects

Two major political parties — the ruling Congress and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party — are making every bid to woo the voters with development projects

With the poll campaign for the Shimla municipal corportaion election nearing end, the two major political parties — the ruling Congress and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party — are making every bid to woo the voters with development projects, who would exercise his franchise on May 2. From aerial ropeways to skyways, the parties are making big promises to the voters.

Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu meets people during the election campaign in Shimla on Thursday. (Deepak Sansta/HT)

Three days ahead of the canvassing coming to a close, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Union information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur held four road shows in the state capital Shimla.

Anurag Thakur held road shows in four wards and a meeting in Jutogh. Later, he addressed the media and credited the Modi government for granting funds under the smart city project to Shimla and Dharamshala. He was accompanied by former urban development minister Suresh Bhardwaj and credited him for Shimla’s development. It was during Suresh Bhardwaj’s tenure that a tunnel was built parallel to the British-era Dhalli tunnel to ease traffic congestion. “Congress has failed to fulfil the guarantees. A day after newly-elected party president Rajeev Bindal described MC elections as a “routine affair” for national leadership, contrary to him Anurag Thakur said the elections were important for him for the development of the state’s capital.

Chief minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu campaigned for party’s candidate Umang Banga in seven wards. He started the campaign from Lower Bazaar ward, and subsequently visited Ram Bazar, Summer Hill, Bharari, Kuftadhar, Kaithu and Annadale wards. His nukkad sabhas continued till 9 pm.

“Our government is working hard to improve the state economy. I have spent my childhood in Shimla and started my political career here only,” he said. Sukhu said he was well aware of the problems faced by the Shimla MC, since he himself remained a corporator.

In his address, CM Sukhu said with the Congress being in power in the state, the development projects will get a boost in Shimla. Apart from providing clean water to people of Shimla, widening of roads and arranging hanging electric wires in Shimla, the Congress will solve every problem being faced by residents.

The CM said soon after the formation of the Congress government in the state, many decisions in the interest of the state had been taken.

The CM said, “In the coming time, all areas that come under the Shimla MC will be provided with clean water.” Claiming that his party would emerge victorious in the elections, he promised to build world-class ropeways in Shimla to ease traffic congestion.

Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri, who is also the Jal Shakti and transport minister, said the infighting in the BJP lead to the change of the party chief amidst the MC elections. The deputy CM said the government was coming up with the Shimla Urban Ropeway Project, an important project for the capital. The ₹ 1,546-crore project will be an eye-opener for all. Under the project, 15 stations will be built in the city and five different lines will be laid. The average speed will be 18-km per hour. The project, with a length of 14.69 km, will be the second largest ropeway in the world after America. All formalities are being completed regarding this. Efforts are being made to release tenders for it by October. With this project, along with tourism, the residents of the city will get better transport facilities. Buses will run till 12 midnight, and e-buses will also be run in Shimla.

As soon the code of conduct is removed, 20 new e-buses will join the MC’s fleet in the city. e-bus chargers are being installed at Taradevi and Tutikandi. He said the transport department is constructing e-bus depot in Dhalli.

He said Shimla will be made e-bus city. Agnihotri said the transport department would also start luxury volvo service between Shimla and Jaipur soon.

Agnihotri said the drinking water crisis in Shimla town would be resolved soon. By 2025, the residents of the city will start getting clean drinking water 24-hours a day. Work is being done on four schemes regarding this.

He charged that the BJP was spreading false propaganda on not fulfilling the guarantees. Agnihotri said every guarantee will be fulfilled by 2027.