With tourist season in full swing, over 12 lakh km of roads in the state capital have been choked by heavy traffic, leading to jams and major inconvenience for commuters.
According to police, approximately 8.5 lakh vehicles entered Shimla through the three key entry points in May. Similarly, about 3.8 lakh vehicles have entered the town so far in June, reflecting the huge vehicular inflow. As a result, Shimla’s main entry points at Shogi, Totu, and Dhalli are choked, especially during peak hours, with vehicles moving at a snail’s pace.
Highlighting police efforts to manage traffic, Shimla SSP Gaurav Singh said around 210 police and home guard personnel have been deployed across key locations in the town.
“Additionally, permission has been sought from police headquarters to retain three reserves comprising around 70 personnel who were deployed during Summer Festival. About 50 traffic volunteers have also been engaged for traffic management. Furthermore, 32 traffic bike riders have been deployed at various locations to respond quickly to traffic-related issues,” he said.
“The district police have divided the town into five sectors for effective traffic management. Each sector has been assigned to a gazetted officer whose primary responsibility is to ensure smooth and uninterrupted traffic flow,” he said.
“In addition, special police personnel have been deployed at major parking lots across the state capital to ensure smooth entry and exit of vehicles. This is helping prevent unnecessary congestion and blockages around parking lots and reducing traffic congestion within the town,” the SSP said.
He added that police are encouraging tourists and locals to use alternative routes to save time and reduce congestion. “Commuters heading to Kufri, Narkanda, Theog, and Kinnaur are being advised to use the Shoghi-Mehli bypass. Currently, about 800 vehicles are being diverted to this route daily,” he said.
Singh said police are also spreading awareness through educational videos on social media to provide traffic updates to tourists and locals. People are being encouraged to use public transport, which has been allowed to operate on Cart Road, thereby reducing dependence on private vehicles and easing congestion.
