SHIMLA: A massive surge in tourists has led to severe traffic congestion across the state capital, with heavy vehicular movement choking roads and causing significant inconvenience to commuters and locals.
According to data released by the police, approximately 8.5 lakh vehicles entered Shimla through its three primary entry points in May. The heavy influx has persisted into June, with around 3.8 lakh vehicles recorded so far. This unprecedented volume has left the main entry points at Shoghi, Totu, and Dhalli heavily choked, particularly during peak hours, forcing vehicles to move at a snail’s pace.
To tackle the crisis, the district police have implemented a multi-layered traffic management plan. Shimla Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh stated that around 210 police and home guard personnel have been deployed at key bottlenecks throughout the town.
“We have also sought permission from the police headquarters to retain three reserves, comprising about 70 personnel, who were initially stationed for the Summer Festival. Alongside them, 50 traffic volunteers have been engaged, and 32 traffic motorcycle riders have been deployed at various points to ensure a quick response to traffic bottlenecks,” the SSP said.
As part of the strategic restructuring, the town has been divided into five distinct sectors. Each sector is under the direct supervision of a gazetted officer tasked with ensuring an uninterrupted flow of traffic. Special police personnel have also been stationed at major parking lots across the capital to manage the entry and exit of vehicles, preventing blockages from spilling onto the main roads.
The police administration is actively advising both tourists and local commuters to utilize alternative routes to minimize travel time.
“Commuters traveling toward Kufri, Narkanda, Theog, and Kinnaur are being requested to use the Shoghi-Mehli bypass. At present, nearly 800 vehicles are being diverted to this bypass daily,” SSP Singh added.
In addition to physical traffic management, the police are using social media platforms to broadcast educational videos and real-time traffic updates. Authorities are also urging the public to opt for public transport, which is being permitted to operate on Cart Road, in an effort to reduce reliance on private vehicles and ease the overall congestion in the town.
