By IANS
Shimla : The Ridge is the one place in this Himachal Pradesh capital large enough for public rallies, and it has held many famous ones in the past. But with ten days to go for a rally by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh scheduled here, there is still construction work going on at the Ridge, and there is uncertainty on whether the rally can be held at the traditional venue.
According to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the prime minister will arrive here Sep 30 for the launch of the national Aam Aadmi Bima Yojna. Then there is the rally, ahead of the assembly polls scheduled early next year.
The Ridge is an amphitheatre-like flatland, one of the few areas in mountainous Shimla that can accommodate thousands of people.
It is also one of the most popular spots for the thousands of tourists who are here throughout the year. But for the last four months, a section of the Ridge has been dug up for construction work and a part of it remains out of bounds for the public.
Shimla district magistrate Tarun Kapoor has said that work is on 24 hours a day to restore the Ridge for the prime minister’s rally. But many doubt if the deadline will be met.