Chandigarh to be 'rebuilt' as smart city: Rijiju

The Centre will ensure that the entire Chandigarh is "rebuilt" and it comes up as a "smart city", Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijuju said here today.
On his maiden visit to the city as a Minister, he said that he held meetings with the officers of the local administration and discussed the issues of development of the city.
"Whole of Chandigarh will be fresh (developed as new)...It will re-built...The MHA under which Chandigarh comes will ensure that it comes up as a smart city," he said.
The Minister, who also attended the passing out parade of ITBP near here, said the Centre is prepared for all possible help for development of Chandigarh.

Rijiju, who also inaugurated the solar power plant and newly built auditorium in the PG Government College for Girls at Sector 42 here, said that Chandigarh being an ideal city, it is appropriate that the college has gone in for solar energy which would be the energy of the future.
The Minister said that the state of the act auditorium would help in honing and developing the skills of students in the extra-curricular activities, which are as important as studies.

He refused to comment on controversy created over recent remarks by Union Minister Arun Jaitley on rape and its affect on tourism. "I won't comment on it," he said.

On the issue of special privileges, including passes to visit restricted areas and free air travel reportedly sought by BJP MP's for their Personal Secretaries, the Minister said that "we take review of excesses of ministers and officers and then decide upon it."
"I can't comment upon it (privileges)...I will discuss with the BJP and come back with a reply," he added.
Meanwhile, Kirron Kher, Lok Sabha MP from Chandigarh, said that she would make all effort to make Chandigarh the first smart city in the country.
She expressed her happiness to be involved in the development of the city.

The new auditorium has a seating capacity of 600 and was built at a cost of Rs 5 crore in three years.