Promising overall progress and development of Shimla city, Shimla (Urban) independent candidate Harish Janartha on Friday released his election manifesto.

While addressing mediapersons, Harish Janartha who has served the Shimla city as deputy Mayor twice said, “Well versed with the needs of the Shimla city, I would strive to work for the betterment of the city and its citizens endeavouring to make it Smart City.”

Enumerating his recent achievement while serving as Vice Chairman Himachal Pradesh Tourism Corporation (HPTDC), he disclosed that he had been instrumental in bringing about beautification of Shimla city, developing parking lots, major tarring of roads through the over Rs 300 Crore project funded by Asian Development Bank.

Upbeat of winning the Shimla (Urban) constituency, he said that he had always served the public of Shimla rising above political party lines and the similar trend would continue if he is elected to serve as a legislator for the city.

He had previously contested the 2012 Assembly elections for Shimla constituency as a Congress candidate, however, he lost the elections by a margin of mere 628 votes.

His five page manifesto promises to link Shimla city with modern tourism to cater to the domestic as well as foreign tourist, traffic decongestion, strengthening of public transport, development of pedestrian paths, promote eco-friendly transport that include cycling, provide basic amenities for the businessmen of the city, special taxi service for women, construction of link road enroute Krishna Nagar connecting circular road with bypass road to provide respite from traffic jams, laying of underground electricity cables to rid the city of the network of the hanging electricity cables.

Keeping in view the need to provide safe environment for women and girls, the manifesto assures to combat drug menace, increase vigil through installation of CCTV cameras and strengthening police security in sensitive areas.

Provision of clean drinking water, construction of community parking lots, parks, recreation facilities, community centres in the 34 wards falling in the Shimla municipal limits, are other promises enumerated in the manifesto.