MP govt bows to public demand; shifts Smart City project venue

In the wake of people's stiff opposition to the development of proposed Smart City plan at the Shivaji Nagar area in the city, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said the site will now be shifted to North T T Nagar here.
"The site of the Smart City project will now be shifted to North TT Nagar from the earlier proposed Shivaji Nagar, respecting the popular opinion and for keeping intact the greenery and beauty of the area," Chouhan announced after a meeting on the issue.
Addressing a high-level review meet on Smart City plan at Mantralaya here, the Chief Minister said that constructing high rises would be "unjust" keeping in view the greenery and aesthetic value of town planning in Shivaji Nagar.

"Therefore, the decision of shifting the Smart City site from Shivaji Nagar to North T T Nagar has been taken," he said.
The open flowing nullahs (drains) in the area would be taken care of and massive plantations would be taken up at the new site.
Chouhan asked the authorities concerned to start necessary preparations for the new site.

It may be noted here that land measuring 691.89 acres is available at North T T Nagar, while Shivaji Nagar had 332.98 acres.
The State Chief Secretary Antony DeSa, Principal Secretaries to Chief Minister, Iqbal Singh Bains and S K Mishra, among others were present on the occasion.

In the past, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh had written a letter to Chouhan, in which he had opposed the move of setting up Smart City project in Shivaji Nagar and Tulsi Nagar areas because of its rich green cover.
In the letter, Singh had highlighted that the proposed project would lead to uprooting of around 40,000 trees, which not only provide fresh air to the city, but also made the area already "Smart".