Mahajan vows to seek more funds for Smart City projects

Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan has promised to seek more funds from the Centre for Indore’s development, if need be.

Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan has promised to seek more funds from the Centre for Indore’s development, if need be.

LS Speaker and Indore MP Sumitra Mahajan reviews city’s development projects on Thursday. (Arun Mondhe/ HT)

Mahajan, who represents Indore constituency, was conducting a review of Indore’s Smart City, Light Metro, Kahn and Saraswati River front development projects in presence of city mayor Malini Gaud, legislators, district collector and municipal officials at city bus office on Thursday evening.

“While drawing plans for development of the city, the officials need to have a futuristic approach,” she said.

“If required, I can fight for more funds from the Centre.”

The Lok Sabha speaker also suggested the removal of slum settlements in Kabutar Khana and South Toda.

“The slum dwellings are barely 10 -15 years old and are mostly illegal, we should adopt a strict approach towards dealing with the encroachments,” she said. Mahajan also advocated for the construction of subways at major junctions across the city, where pedestrians find it difficult to cross roads.

While reviewing Kahn and Saraswati River front development projects, Mahajan said, “The officials should chalk out plans in such a way that they should be able to generate revenue from them in future. Investment and development should not be their only goal.”

Municipal commissioner Manish Singh briefed Mahajan about the ongoing development works and future plans for the Smart City area and the entire city.

Mahajan also pitched for parking spaces in the central area, where congestion is a major problem. Singh said the Indore Municipal Corporation is identifying places for parking complexes in the city. “A multi-level parking with capacity to park 200 four-wheelers and 600 two-wheelers is being planned near Nandlalpura,” he added.