The traffic management initiatives involve deploying additional personnel, strict monitoring, mapping alternate routes, and promoting public transportation, according to a senior police official.
As schools close for summer, tourists are flocking to various destinations across Himachal Pradesh, resulting in frequent traffic jams on highways and connecting roads.
Hoteliers report that the average occupancy rate for tourist accommodations in Himachal Pradesh last week was between 60-70 percent on weekdays, increasing to 80-90 percent over the weekends.
“In the last 45 days, over 1.5 million vehicles have arrived in Shimla, leading the police to develop a five-point strategy to manage the crowd,” Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh informed PTI.
He mentioned that managing the influx of tourists is feasible if internal blockages are resolved.
The traffic management plan includes the deployment of additional personnel, interceptor vehicles, and motorcycle patrols for effective traffic management, as well as oversight by gazetted officers, utilization of alternative roads, and promoting public transport and awareness, Singh elaborated.
He highlighted that malfunctioning heavy vehicles, such as buses and trucks, on the Cart Road—vital for the hill town—are a significant concern, often leading to prolonged traffic jams. Towing away a stranded vehicle using a crane on a single-lane road is a slow process, Singh noted.
To address this, three cranes have been stationed in various sectors for quick response to such situations.
On Tuesday, five vehicles broke down, he added, highlighting that private buses stopping at unauthorized locations often disrupt traffic flow. The issue of idle parking is also being tackled.
The traffic management strategy incorporates the addition of 210 police personnel and home guards, along with volunteers. Traffic personnel are also assigned to major parking areas to facilitate smooth vehicle entry and exit, preventing congestion.
The number of motorcycle traffic personnel has been increased to 32 for faster response to traffic issues. Interceptor vehicles are deployed in several areas to enforce traffic rules and ensure prompt action against violations.
The city of Shimla has been divided into five sectors to improve monitoring and traffic regulation. Each sector is overseen by a gazetted officer responsible for ensuring the seamless movement of traffic.
Additionally, tourists are encouraged to utilize alternative routes to save time and minimize congestion in the city. Travelers heading to Kufri, Narkanda, Theog, and Kinnaur are recommended to take the Shoghi-Mehli bypass route.
This alternative route eases traffic pressure in the city and reduces travel time, with around 800 vehicles being diverted through the bypass each day.
Shimla Police is also creating and distributing informative and educational videos on social media to provide traffic-related guidance to tourists and the general public.
To promote the use of public transport, larger vehicles like Travellers and other forms of public transportation have been allowed to operate on the Cart Road, aiming to decrease dependence on private vehicles and alleviate congestion.
SP Singh emphasized the effectiveness of this plan, noting that there have been no significant instances of traffic congestion in the district, particularly in Shimla city and its periphery, during the peak summer tourism season from April to June.
He pointed out that last year saw severe traffic jams on the outer roads leading to Shoghi, Kufri, and Bilaspur, in addition to the main Shimla city.
While extending a warm welcome to tourists, Shimla Police has urged visitors and residents to comply with traffic regulations, utilize designated parking zones, and follow alternative routes to ensure smooth traffic flow in this popular tourist destination.
