For development of the Himachal Padesh’s small and medium towns, the Union government has approved eight projects with an estimated cost of Rs 217.26 crore, Himachal Padesh Urban Development Minister Sudheer Sharma said on December 2. The projects would be implemented in Rampur, Nagrota, Kangra, Mandi, Manali and Kullu Towns, the Minister said in Dharamsala. The projects will be taken under the Centre’s Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small & Medium Towns (UIDSSMT). The Himachal Pradesh government had requested the Centre to approve 23 other schemes, amounting to approximately Rs 345 crore, pertaining to upgradation of urban infrastructure. Detailed project reports (DPRs) for these schemes are currently being appraised by the Centre.