Shimla, June 26
After a three-day hiatus, all trains resumed service to Shimla on Monday, much to the relief of tourists from both domestic and international origins. On Monday, all seven trains arrived in Shimla on schedule, reviving the hustle and bustle at the Shimla railway station. The influx of tourists on Tuesday, spurred by the summer season, further enlivened the town.
Previously, due to the repair of bridge number 800 near Summerhill, train operations on the Kalka-Shimla railway track were restricted to Taradevi, Kathlighat, and Barog, causing significant inconvenience for tourists. Forced to cover half the journey by train, travelers had to resort to taxis and buses for the remainder, leading to wasted time and money. This situation prompted many tourists to cancel their train bookings altogether.
On Monday, the railway department completed the bridge repairs and conducted successful trials, confirming the bridge’s safety. Consequently, the Himalayan Queen arrived at Shimla railway station. The previous year, heavy rains had washed away bridge number 800 on the Kalka-Shimla track, leaving the track suspended in the air and halting train operations for several days. Anticipating similar threats from the monsoon, the railway department, under the supervision of technical experts, fortified the bridge with cement pillars.
The state’s Hotel and Restaurant Bar Association had urged the prompt restoration of the Kalka-Shimla UNESCO heritage track, recognizing its crucial role in facilitating tourist travel and alleviating the traffic congestion on the Kalka-Shimla National Highway. Last week, Shimla recorded an unprecedented influx of eight lakh tourists, with visitors flocking to the hill station to escape the oppressive heatwave.
According to Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi, the state capital bottleneck points can accommodate approximately 13,000 to 14,000 cars daily. However, tourist arrivals are witnessing an average of 25,000 to 30,000 vehicles, resulting in traffic jams during check-in and check-out times from 9 AM to 1 PM and from 5 PM to 8 PM. The reopening of the Kalka-Shimla UNESCO heritage track is expected to ease traffic to some extent, though it will not entirely resolve the town’s congestion issues.
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