Infrastructure

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SC directs Himachal Government to consider objections to the Shimla Draft Development Plan

Author : PNT Reporter

The Supreme Court of India has directed the Himachal Pradesh government to address objections to the Shimla draft development plan and publish a final plan within six weeks. The court emphasized that construction based on the draft plan is not allowed. The National Green Tribunal had previously declared the draft plan illegal and in conflict with its ruling. Construction of any kind without sanctioned plans were deemed unauthorized by the court, with applicants encouraged to seek remedy through the High Court. The state's view was deemed non-binding due to the overriding provisions of the NGT Act....

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Smart City project in Dehradun faces criticism and delays

Author : PNT Reporter

The urban development minister of Uttarakhand, Prem Chand Agarwal, expressed his dissatisfaction with the progress of Dehradun's Smart City project during a review meeting held earlier this month. The project, which was expected to be completed by June 2023, has caused inconvenience to the public due to delays and uncoordinated efforts. The minister urged authorities to speed up the work and increase night shifts to complete the projects before the monsoon season, while ensuring good quality. However, several projects, such as the smart roads and green building development, are falling behind schedule....

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Noida Authority to examine interstate financial models for upcoming township project

Author : PNT Reporter

The Noida Authority is set to scrutinize financial models from Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan, aiming to inform its land acquisition strategy for the upcoming Dadri-Noida-Ghaziabad Investment Region (DNGIR). This study, led by the planning department's general manager, will culminate in a report for state government approval. The initiative is part of the Authority's commitment to explore innovative land acquisition strategies, supporting its vision of phased industrial development in the region and creating over 50,000 job opportunities....

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Indore aims to boost its tech industry with two new IT Parks

Author : PNT Reporter

Indore, known for its business activities, is planning to construct two additional IT Parks to attract more IT/ITES companies to the area. One of these parks is proposed to be built in the Electronic Complex, while the other is set to be located near the Crystal IT Park. The new IT Parks are expected to offer amenities such as co-working spaces, conference rooms, gymnasiums, restaurants, and accommodation for visiting clients. The MPIDC is striving to create an environmentally friendly infrastructure, with solar panels and direct sunlight provisions included in the design. The new parks are expected to accommodate more than 50 technology firms and help stimulate economic growth in the region....

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Gujarat's Joint Development Plan to boost integration and infrastructure

Author : PNT Reporter

The urban development authorities of Gujarat’s two major cities, Ahmedabad, and Gandhinagar are collaborating on a joint development plan (DP) to be completed by March 2024. The plan will integrate the roads and civic infrastructure connecting both cities and consider the non-agricultural land of the 69 villages within Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority's green zone. The joint DP is also expected to improve the overall development of the two cities, as there is no clear boundary between them. However, experts caution that the plan must prioritize policy and prospects rather than project-driven development to prevent conflicts of interest....

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Historic Victoria Zenana Hospital faces demolition, conservationists rally for preservation

Author : PNT Bureau

The landmark Victoria Zenana Hospital in Hyderabad, the city's first all-women hospital, is slated for demolition this month to accommodate a new multi-level parking lot for the Telangana High Court. Despite government approval for the demolition, heritage conservationists insist the 120-year-old building could be repurposed. The decision to raze the site, which once housed pioneering women doctors and is a notable example of Indo-Saracenic architecture, has sparked intense debate about the need for urban development versus the preservation of historical heritage....

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Eight 'theme-based townships' in works in Uttarakhand

Author : PNT Reporter

The Uttarakhand government plans to build eight new theme-based townships in the state, with two more sites currently being studied. The government has proposed a city in Parag Farm and another in Doiwala, and 10 out of 20 locations have been shortlisted for development. The projects include a Film City, a Cyber City, a Wellness Township, a Haldwani Twin City, and a Tourism Township. The aim is to draw investment and generate jobs while keeping up with population growth in urban areas....

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Towering buildings in Hyderabad cause gridlock due to lack of traffic impact assessments

Author : PNT Reporter

The failure of civic bodies in Hyderabad to ensure that traffic carrying capacity of a road is assessed before giving permission for a new building has left many residential areas choked under vehicle pressure. Builders are not conducting mandatory Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) when seeking building permissions, and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and other ULBs within Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority are not strict about conducting traffic studies. With permissions being given freely, small by lanes are turning into major bottlenecks, causing gridlock and making it difficult for residents to access their homes....

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Delhi's Jama Masjid to undergo a major facelift

Author : PNT Reporter

Delhi's iconic Jama Masjid is set to receive a much-needed facelift as part of a redevelopment plan conceptualized in 2004. The Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) has approved a fresh tender issued by the Public Works Department (PWD) for preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for the mosque's redevelopment, which includes the refurbishment of surrounding areas such as Meena Bazaar, construction of walkways, pedestrian passages, and common utility ducts. The first part of the project will focus on the area around Jama Masjid, while the second part will require a new DPR for revamping the mosque's premises....

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Gurugram's infrastructure stressed by 20,000 new builder-floors in five years

Author : PNT Reporter

Gurugram's infrastructure is under immense pressure as over 20,000 new builder-floors have been constructed since 2017, following the Haryana government's allowance of stilt plus four floors. The city's infrastructure, initially designed for two and a half floors per plot, now faces issues such as water supply problems, broken roads, and power outages. Despite government assurances, residents demand a halt to the registration of fourth floors and call for infrastructure upgrades to manage the strain on civic amenities....