Shimla: With many public offices eyeing the prime space vacated by the district judicial complex in the heart of the city, chief minister Virbhadra Singh categorically ruled out shifting of the Municipal Corporation offices in the complex.
Speaking on the occasion of inaugurating the new judicial complex at Chakkar today, the chief minister said, “I don’t approve the move to shift some of the offices of the Municipal Corporation in the old district court complex as the building requires lots of repair and renovation and later be used for the collectorate (District Administration).”
With the district administration, the superintendent police offices and district courts having been housed in one integrated complex for a long period, it had become one of the most congested parts of the city that often involved hour long traffic jams on the approach road.
Having realized the congestion being faced by the public, the need for moving out the district court complex was first mooted in 2007.
The Municipal Corporation, presently housed in the heritage building right on The Mall adjacent to the historic Gaiety Theater building, is proposed to be moved out from the city centre to carry out much needed restorations in the old and creaking structure.
For the purpose funds have been provided by Asian Development Bank under a multi-million dollar tourism project.
Facing displacement from the city centre, the municipal authorities have been pressing the state government to allot them the old judicial complex after it is vacated and moved to the new judicial complex.
However, chief minister Virbhadra Singh today turned down the proposal to do so.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
