Shimla, Oct 30,
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued a directive aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in Shimla by enhancing traffic flow and accelerating parking infrastructure projects. The bench, led by Acting Chief Justice Tatlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Satyan Vaidya, instructed the state administration to implement effective traffic management and develop parking facilities along the city’s busiest routes.
A committee led by the Chief Secretary is to be established, tasked with overseeing traffic movement and expediting parking lot construction, especially along heavily trafficked areas such as the IGMC to Sanjauli Bazaar corridor and the Chhota Shimla to Panthaghati route. Law enforcement officials, including the Shimla SP and officers from Chhota Shimla, are mandated to prevent unauthorized roadside parking and ensure smooth traffic on designated roads.
To ease public mobility, the Court rescinded prior restrictions on vehicle entry into Sanjauli Bazaar and Chhota Shimla, noting that recent road-widening work in these areas allows for unrestricted access. Under-construction parking and road-widening projects near IGMC and Panthaghati must be executed without disrupting regular traffic, ensuring convenience for the public, including students and office-goers.
The High Court also referred to an earlier directive issued in 2017, emphasizing the need for robust traffic solutions around IGMC and calling for a comprehensive approach to Shimla’s traffic woes. Among the suggested measures is a large, centralized parking facility at the city’s entrance to help reduce congestion within Shimla. The Court further emphasized the importance of constructing pedestrian walkways, metalling roads, and addressing encroachments along Shimla’s key routes.
The Court noted delays in IGMC’s ongoing parking project under Tenzin Construction Company, urging immediate acceleration and demanding compliance updates from both the company and the HPPWD’s Chief Engineer. Additionally, the Court highlighted a need for improved access between IGMC’s main building and trauma facilities, directing HPPWD to build a new passage with lifts and ramps for patients’ ease.
The case will be reviewed again on November 12, 2024, with progress reports from all relevant parties on the enforcement of these traffic and infrastructure guidelines.
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