Remodeling of Gangtok, MG marg will be No-vehicle zone
Gangtok :Gangtokians will get their new Gangtok accompanied with full of modern amenities like systematic sewerage system, widening roads, beautiful pedestrian flyovers, streamline water supply, what not? Urban development and Housing department (UD&HD) secretary, Tobjor Dorji, is scheduled to go to Delhi for Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Union Urban Ministry in 10 and 11 June. Gangtok will be remodeled with full of urban facilities as this plan has been undertaken by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) under the city development plan, Said Dorji. The renovation of MG Marg also has featured in the mission however, according to C.Zangpo, additional chief engineer of urban development and Housing development department, the carpeting of MG Marg which is being carried out presently is not under the mission it is being constructed under the state government fund which amounts 56 lakhs. The people have dug the road for cable wires which has made the road ugly and disturb for the passerby. So for the time being we are making just the carpeting for the roads not further more, he said. After this all would me done under the JNNUR Mission, Zangpo also unfolded the city plan of the department. The department has made two options for the Gangtok city, One is No vehicle zone all along MG Marg and another is Touch and Go option which will be operate on New market to traffic point where from the vehicles could go from the one side of the roads, he said. But that has not yet been finalized, only after the meeting in Delhi that will be finalized he said.
The mission will also have a plan to construct slum building at Bhanu gram for the urban poor so that they could dwell there with nominal charges. With the remodeling of new city and forming of the municipal corporation there would be introduced a number of reforms, one of them is the property tax for the Gangtokians. But the amount of tax for charging is subject to the state government, Dorji said. JNNUR Mission which comprises of the rupees 50000 crore budget is especially for the 63 mission cities. Gangtok, however, being the capital city the mission has been implemented, otherwise, for a mission city there are million plus population whereas Gangtok has not more than a lakh population, Dorji added. The Mission will make the plan for the city taking the vision of 30/40 years into account.
The mission will also have a plan to construct slum building at Bhanu gram for the urban poor so that they could dwell there with nominal charges. With the remodeling of new city and forming of the municipal corporation there would be introduced a number of reforms, one of them is the property tax for the Gangtokians. But the amount of tax for charging is subject to the state government, Dorji said. JNNUR Mission which comprises of the rupees 50000 crore budget is especially for the 63 mission cities. Gangtok, however, being the capital city the mission has been implemented, otherwise, for a mission city there are million plus population whereas Gangtok has not more than a lakh population, Dorji added. The Mission will make the plan for the city taking the vision of 30/40 years into account.