Shimla Tourist Rush: 15 lakh vehicles enter city in 45 days, special traffic management plan in place
Shimla traffic jam update: A massive influx of tourists during the summer vacation season has put Shimla's traffic management system to the test, with nearly 1.5 million (15 lakh) vehicles entering the hill station between May 1 and June 15. Visitors from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and other neighbouring states have flocked to Himachal Pradesh following the closure of schools for summer holidays, resulting in heavy traffic movement across the region.
According to local hotel operators, tourist occupancy in Himachal Pradesh has reached 60 to 70 per cent on regular days and rises to as high as 80 to 90 per cent during weekends. The growing tourist footfall has increased pressure on highways and link roads leading to Shimla, prompting authorities to strengthen traffic management measures.
To address the situation, the Shimla Police have introduced a special five-point traffic management plan aimed at ensuring smooth vehicular movement throughout the city. Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said efforts are focused on streamlining traffic on internal roads and removing bottlenecks, adding that managing the tourist rush has not become a major challenge due to proactive planning.
As part of the strategy, 210 additional police personnel, Home Guards and volunteers have been deployed across the city. Shimla has been divided into five sectors, with each sector placed under the supervision of a gazetted officer. The number of motorcycle-borne police personnel assigned for rapid response duties has also been increased to 32, while interceptor vehicles have been deployed to monitor traffic violations. Police personnel have additionally been stationed at major parking areas to facilitate smooth traffic flow.
Authorities identified breakdowns of heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks on the city's main Cart Road as one of the primary causes of congestion. Improper parking and unscheduled halts by private buses have also contributed to traffic disruptions. Since Cart Road is a single-lane stretch in several sections, removing stranded vehicles often takes time. To tackle the issue, three cranes have been strategically stationed at different locations. Police officials said five vehicles broke down on Tuesday alone.
Tourists travelling towards Kufri, Narkanda, Theog and Kinnaur are being encouraged to use the Shoghi-Mehli bypass instead of entering Shimla city. The alternative route has helped reduce pressure on urban roads while saving travel time for visitors. On average, nearly 800 vehicles are being diverted through the bypass route each day.
The Shimla Police are also using social media platforms to share traffic advisories and awareness videos with tourists. In an effort to reduce dependence on private vehicles, travellers and other public transport vehicles have been allowed to operate on Cart Road.
SP Gaurav Singh said the measures have delivered encouraging results, noting that no major traffic jams have been reported in Shimla or its surrounding areas during the current summer season. In contrast, last year witnessed severe congestion on roads connecting Shoghi, Kufri, Bilaspur and Shimla city.
The police have appealed to both tourists and local residents to follow traffic regulations, park vehicles only in designated areas and make use of alternate routes to ensure hassle-free travel during the peak tourist season.
- With inputs from agencies
