Permanent residents demand rationalisation of Shimla road permit system
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Permanent residents demand rationalisation of Shimla road permit system
Shimla, June 25,
Residents of several localities situated along Shimla’s restricted roads on Thursday urged the district administration Shimla to rationalise the vehicle permit system, saying the existing procedure has become cumbersome and financially burdensome for permanent residents.
A delegation representing residents of Jakhu, U.S. Club, Benmore, Fingask Estate, Catholic Club, Kali Bari, North Bank and upper Kanlog Ward met Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and submitted a detailed memorandum seeking a more citizen-friendly permit policy.
According to the memorandum, around 500 families reside in these areas, many of whom have lived there for over five decades, while some have been permanent residents since 1948.
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The residents said they are compelled to complete multiple formalities and obtain permits simply to reach their own homes through restricted roads. They also pointed out that the recent requirement of obtaining a residence certificate from the SDM office has extended the permit process to 30-45 days, causing considerable inconvenience.
The delegation demanded the introduction of a long-term Resident Pass for permanent residents, a substantial reduction in permit fees, establishment of a single-window clearance system, inclusion of permanent residents among exempted categories under the relevant rules, extension of permit facilities to motorcycles and two-wheelers, and a simplified entry mechanism for essential service providers and courier agencies.
The residents also highlighted that permit charges have risen sharply from about Rs 1,000 earlier to between Rs 5,000 and Rs 15,000, and argued that genuine residents should not be treated on par with commercial establishments as access to their homes is a basic necessity.
Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap heard the delegation and assured them that their concerns would be examined sympathetically. He said the administration would consider appropriate measures to rationalise the permit system and address the genuine difficulties faced by permanent residents.
Meanwhile, INC councillor from Jakhu Ward, Atul Gautam, informed Himachal Scape that the issue had already been raised by him and Sheenam Kataria, councillor from Benmore Ward, in the Municipal Corporation Shimla House.
“We have requested that the fee for permanent residents of these areas should be rationalised and not increased multifold,” Gautam said. He added that a resolution in this regard has already been passed by the House and that the proposed fivefold hike in permit charges will not affect permanent residents of the area.
The delegation included Deepak Sood, Pradeep Kukreja, Rajat, Divpreet Gulati, Kimi Sood, Karan Nanda, former Mayor Manoj Sharma, Pankaj Prabhakar, D.D. Sharma, Manoj Kumar, Harish Malhotra, Sahil Sood, Vijay Gupta and other residents.
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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.