Shimla proposes monorail to benefit tourism

19 Mar 2021 CW Team

Under the ‘Smart City Mission’, the Shimla Municipal Corporation will propose setting up a monorail service to attract more tourists, benefit local commuters, and increase the corporation’s income. Mayor Satya Kaundal announced this during the annual budget meeting of the corporation.

Shimla Deputy Mayor Shalinder Chauhan said, “It’s so far only an idea and we’re yet to work out the proposal. We will first invite some companies to conduct feasibility studies and then hopefully float tenders for the project within the next two years to meet the Smart City Mission deadline.”

He said that the Sanjauli tunnel to IGMC hospital, Chhota Shimla to Lal & Sons and Chaura Maidan to CTO are some of the routes where a monorail can be set up. “If the public supports the project, I’m sure it can take off,” he added.

In her budget speech, the mayor also suggested introducing a ‘green tax’ on vehicles coming to Shimla from other states, which may bring an annual income of Rs 15 crore to the corporation. Other suggestions for increasing the local body’s income included increasing the liquor cess from Rs 2 to Rs 5 per bottle and the electricity cess from 10 paise per unit to 20 paise per unit. Kaundal also suggested imposing a fee of Rs 5 on each courier coming into the city, saying that courier deliveries by big companies are causing losses to local shopkeepers who pay tax and a licence fee to the MC.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor Consultancy Contract Awarded

The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation has awarded the first construction-related consultancy contract for the Lucknow Metro East West Corridor to a joint venture of AYESA Ingenieria Arquitectura SAU and AYESA India Pvt Ltd. The firm was declared the lowest bidder for the Detailed Design Consultant contract for Lucknow Metro Line-2 under Phase 1B and the contract was recommended following the financial bid. The contract is valued at Rs 159.0 million (mn), covering design services for the corridor. Lucknow Metro Line-2 envisages the construction of an 11.165 kilometre corridor connecting Cha..

Div Com Kashmir Urges Fast Tracking Of Jhelum Water Transport Project

The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has called for the fast-tracking of the Jhelum water transport project, urging district administrations and relevant agencies to accelerate planning and clearances. In a meeting convened at the divisional headquarters, the commissioner instructed officials from irrigation, public health engineering and municipal departments to prioritise the project and coordinate survey and design work. The directive emphasised removal of administrative bottlenecks and close monitoring to ensure timely mobilisation of resources and contractors. Officials were told to in..

Interarch Reports Strong Q3 And Nine Month Results

Interarch Building Solutions Limited reported unaudited results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025, recording strong revenue growth driven by execution and a robust order book. Net revenue for the third quarter rose by 43.7 per cent to Rs 5.225 billion (bn), compared with Rs 3.636 bn a year earlier, reflecting heightened demand in pre-engineered building projects. The company’s total order book as at 31 January 2026 stood at Rs 16.85 bn, supporting near-term visibility. EBITDA excluding other income for the quarter increased by 43.2 per cent to Rs 503 million (mn),..