Shimla

With tourist traffic surging during the summer vacation season, Shimla Police has implemented a comprehensive five-point traffic management plan after nearly 15 lakh vehicles entered the hill station between May 1 and June 15.

The move comes as Himachal Pradesh witnesses a sharp rise in tourist arrivals following the closure of schools for summer holidays, leading to increased congestion on national highways, city roads and key tourist routes.

According to Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh, the strategy focuses on deploying additional personnel, enhancing surveillance, promoting alternative routes, encouraging public transport and creating public awareness to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Tourism industry representatives said hotel occupancy across the state remained between 60 and 70 per cent on weekdays last week, increasing to nearly 80-90 per cent during weekends.

Speaking to PTI, Singh said that handling the tourist influx becomes manageable if traffic bottlenecks within the city are addressed effectively.

One of the major challenges, he noted, is the breakdown of heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks on Cart Road, a crucial route in Shimla. Since many roads in the city are narrow and single-lane, removing disabled vehicles often becomes difficult and time-consuming.

To tackle this issue, authorities have stationed three cranes at different locations to quickly remove stranded vehicles. On Tuesday alone, five vehicles reportedly broke down, causing temporary disruptions.

Police also identified unauthorised halts by private buses and indiscriminate parking as significant contributors to congestion.

As part of the traffic management plan, an additional 210 police personnel and home guards have been deployed across the district. Volunteers have also been engaged to assist with crowd and traffic regulation.

Dedicated traffic staff have been posted at major parking facilities to ensure smooth vehicle movement and prevent bottlenecks at entry and exit points.

The number of bike-borne traffic personnel has been increased to 32, enabling faster response to traffic-related incidents. Interceptor vehicles are also being used to monitor roads and enforce traffic regulations.

For improved oversight, Shimla has been divided into five traffic sectors. Each sector is supervised by a gazetted officer responsible for monitoring traffic conditions and ensuring smooth vehicular movement.

Authorities are also encouraging visitors to use alternate routes. Tourists travelling towards Kufri, Narkanda, Theog and Kinnaur have been advised to take the Shoghi-Mehli bypass instead of entering the city centre.

According to police, nearly 800 vehicles are being diverted through this bypass route every day, helping reduce traffic pressure within Shimla and shortening travel time.

Public awareness campaigns have also been launched through social media platforms, where traffic advisories, route information and educational videos are being shared regularly with tourists and residents.

To further ease congestion, larger public transport vehicles, including tourist travellers, have been allowed to operate on Cart Road in an effort to reduce dependence on private vehicles.

Highlighting the effectiveness of the initiative, Singh said that despite the peak tourist season between April and June, no major traffic gridlock has been reported in Shimla city or surrounding areas this year.

He contrasted the situation with last year, when severe congestion was frequently witnessed on roads leading to Shoghi, Kufri, Bilaspur and other parts of the district.

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Shimla Police has appealed to both tourists and local residents to cooperate by following traffic rules, using designated parking areas and adhering to recommended alternate routes to ensure a hassle-free travel experience during the busy holiday season.