SHIMLA, September 22: The Himachal Pradesh government's ambitious plan to introduce the rapid mass transport system (MTS) in Shimla seems to be facing rough weather. Nearly Rs 14 lakh, which has been spent on a special techno-feasibility study, may also not pay off.After having dumped the report of the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) - many of its proposals were found irrelevant to Shimla's needs, the government proposes to mainly concentrate on widening of roads and creation of parking sites. Though options have been kept open for introduction of electric buses on the Circular Road, a special feasibility study is required before the proposal is processed for any policy decision.Inquiries reveal that the state cabinet, in a recent meeting, rejected the report of RITES, which had conducted a survey for almost two years. The report had proposed the introduction of light rail-trams for Shimla town to reduce traffic congestions on the roads and also adopt a long-term measure for better means of transport.A high-level committee, headed by then Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Planning, Yogesh Khanna, had found the idea of light rail trams unsuitable since it requires the laying of railway lines all along the Mall Road crossing through the historic Ridge to connect Chhotta Shimla and Sanjauli with Boilae Ganj.In the RITES report, another recommendation was the introduction of the electric trolley buses on the Cart Road. ``This recommendation is still being considered for adoption with some modifications,'' Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Transport, Arvind Kaul, said. However, sources in the department maintain that its feasibility was yet to be studied keeping in view the fact that electric buses require proper alignment of the power-head electric lines.Reliable sources said the state government has now asked the Public Works Department (PWD) and Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) to undertake a feasibility study for assessing the exact road position and also laying of the electric lines.PWD engineers claim that there have been several bottlenecks and all these needed to be cleared. These were over a dozen points where widening of the roads was not possible because of multi-storey constructions and encroachments even by some government departments.At some of the points, the laying of over-head electric lines would not be possible for want of straight alignments.As a short-term measure, the state government has finalised an action plan to widen the Cart Road to clear off few bottle-necks. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal is also slated to lay the foundation of the first major multi-storey parking at the Card Road, near the High Court. ``There are at least four more parking spots on which immediate work is being taken up,'' Mayor Manoj Kumar informed.The environmentalists have, however, expressed concern over increased volume of traffic in Shimla and the lukewarm attitude of the government agencies in finding an appropriate solution to the problem.The Mass Transport System had been a good idea but required serious thinking and planning. The proposal of electric buses also required a cost of Rs 45 crore and the state government is already facing a shortage of resources.
