Shimla, May 3:
Just ahead of the inauguration of the new parking facility in Kagnadhar's Ward 30, local residents have come out strongly in support of Shimla Municipal Corporation to regulate the newly constructed parking and run it at nominal rates for them.
Residents are clear: the parking, built with Shimla Municipal Corporation's (SMC) funds — a hefty Rs 2 crore — should be regulated only by the corporation, not any group, association or select few flat owners.
“It’s public infrastructure built with public money. No association or group can claim exclusive control over it,” residents said, urging Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to officially declare SMC's authority during the inauguration on May 4 at 5 PM.
Notably, the entire HIMUDA colony — including its assets and liabilities — was handed over to the Shimla Municipal Corporation years ago.
Since then, SMC has been providing all essential civic services in the ward and in HIMUDA colony: roads, drains, culverts, water, sewage, streetlights, cleanliness and health services in the Municipal limits.
“Except for the private garages allotted to individuals, the rest of the parkings are regulated by SMC and must be managed accordingly even colonies,” locals stated. A delegation has already met the CM in this regard.
Ward Councillor Ram Ratan Verma confirmed the matter is already in the Chief Minister's notice. Shimla Mayor Surinder Chauhan too backed the residents, saying:
“SMC is the civic body responsible for all amenities in the ward — the parking will be regulated by MC just like elsewhere in the city.”
The CM’s visit to Kagnadhar — his first — is being keenky watched by locals, and expectations are high that clarity will be delivered from the highest level to shut down the confusion being fueled by a small section people including HIMUDA officials.
