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Shimla: From Smart City Dreams to Slum Realities
3 Jul
Summary
- Planned New Shimla township is devolving into a concrete jungle.
- Residents advocate for a walkable 'Wise Shimla' over 'Smart Shimla'.
- Environmental concerns arise from replacing native plants with exotics.
The planned township of New Shimla, conceived to decongest the city, is now described as a 'new slum' due to inadequate mobility planning and rampant construction. Residents and environmentalists gathered recently to discuss a citizen-driven vision document, "The People's Manifesto for Shimla," advocating for a shift towards a walkable city. Nearly 1.8 lakh vehicles entered the city within a recent 72-hour period, highlighting a vehicle-centric problem.
Experts emphasize the need for a 'Wise Shimla' prepared for seismic events and natural disasters like landslides and cloudbursts, rather than just a 'Smart Shimla'. Historic British-era green belts are under severe pressure from development, and natural drainage channels are choked with garbage. Efforts by college students to collect plastic waste underscore the urgent need for individual responsibility and conservation.
