Pradip Mehra, adviser to the Chandigarh administrator, said: 'Once the project takes off, the city will become a model solar city deriving substantial percentage of its energy consumption through renewable energy sources and implementing other energy efficiency measures.'

'I have told the concerned officials to complete the formalities at the earliest and to initiate the procedures for the formal adoption of the project,' he added.

The administration will submit the draft plan to Chandigarh Administrator S.F. Rodrigues. After getting his approval, it will be sent to the central government for the final nod.