Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today hoisted a 100 feet tall national flag at the historic Ridge Maidan here.
This was third such flag in the state after Kullu and Dalhousie, he said on the occasion here.
Singh also said that Rs 144 crore are being spent on various beautification plans for Shimla including restoration and renovation of two British era churches.
Under the beautification project, Rs 23 crore would be spent on restoration of Mall Road from the Telegraph Office to Shimla Club, the Chief Minister said.
The beautification plans also include restoration of Town Hall, multipurpose parking complex at Tuti-Kandi and extension of another Shimla Mall Road, he said.
"We need to extend every basic facility to the residents of Shimla, besides the visitors and it was the duty of every citizen to keep the city green and clean and make it one of the attractive tourist destination globally," Singh added.
He said that in addition to various ropeway projects coming up in the state, work on the one from Jodha Niwas to Jakhu was under progress.
"I want to maintain the original status of Shimla as 'Queen of Hills' and every effort is being made by the government in this direction," the Chief Minister said.
Earlier, he inaugurated the Cash Branch of the Municipal Corporation of Shimla facilitating people to pay their bills under one roof and distributed keys of the dwelling units at Dhalli under a housing scheme for the poor, Ashiana-II, built under the urban development initiative of the government.
Singh also laid the foundation stone of 'Book Cafe' at the Ridge where a rare collection of books pertaining to the history and culture of the state would be available.
The Chief Minister also witnessed the band concert and march past by the Indian Army and was on the occasion by Lt. Gen. P M Hariz, GoC-in-C of ARTRAC, Shimla and Lt Gen Raman Dhawan.
