Shimla, Dec 16,
Shimla’s Totu area, located on the rapidly expanding outskirts of the city, here parking woes often turn the Shimla Airport road into a bottleneck. Especially the narrow one-way road leading to Shimla Airport is frequently clogged, causing significant delays for commuters, students, and office-goers, particularly during peak hours.
The problem stems from unplanned development and weak enforcement of parking regulations. Although municipal authorities mandate parking floors in newly constructed buildings, many homeowners repurpose these spaces for other uses, leaving their vehicles parked on the road. In Totu, vehicles are often parked on both sides of the single-lane road, reducing the already limited carriageway and slowing traffic to a crawl.
Exacerbating the issue is the alleged political patronage shielding violators, which leaves authorities reluctant to impose penalties or enforce regulations. The lack of marked yellow lines and proper signage further emboldens illegal parking practices.
Residents express frustration at the absence of traffic personnel in the area to manage the flow of vehicles or deter improper parking. Many commuters have criticized the administration for its failure to enforce parking rules or ensure adequate parking provisions despite the increasing number of vehicles. “There is no enforcement of parking rules, and the administration continues granting permissions for car ownership without ensuring adequate parking spaces,” lamented one commuter stuck in traffic.
Although temporary measures, such as limiting parking to one side of the road during VIP movements, are occasionally implemented, they fail to address the broader issue. The resulting persistent jams disrupt daily life, causing students to miss classes and office workers to arrive late.
Local residents are urging the administration to adopt long-term solutions to tackle the problem. Suggestions include strict enforcement of parking regulations with heavy penalties for violations, deployment of traffic personnel during peak hours, and infrastructure improvements such as the introduction of yellow lines, designated parking areas, and better road planning. Additionally, they have called for mandatory parking provisions in all buildings to accommodate the vehicles of their occupants.
Without immediate and effective intervention, the situation on Shimla Airport Road is likely to deteriorate further, adversely affecting the quality of life for residents and diminishing the region’s tourism appeal. Both residents and authorities agree that urgent action is required to bring order to Totu’s chaotic roads.
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