Planning to visit Shimla during summer vacations? Administration has announced big measures – MUST READ

Updated Jun 13, 2019 | 12:08 IST | Times Now Digital

In Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, the district administration has announced some measures to deal with the heavy inflow of tourist vehicles.

Shimla traffic summer vacations
Traffic in Shimla | File image  |  Photo Credit: BCCL

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh): Unbearable heat in the plains this summer season has left some of the popular hill stations in Himachal Pradesh choked due to a surge in traffic. A huge number of people are heading to places like Shimla and Manali to beat the heat, causing massive traffic jams.

The situation has forced the authorities in these hill stations to act and put in place some curbs. In Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, the district administration has announced some measures to deal with the heavy inflow of tourist vehicles.

The district administration said it has taken some measures to ensure both tourists, as well as local people, are not inconvenienced.

As per a circular, tourists bound for places beyond Shimla from Chandigarh side will be diverted from Shogi towards Dhalli. Meanwhile, tourists headed from stations beyond Shimla towards Chandigarh will have to take Dhalli bypass to move towards Shoghi.

The Shimla administration has imposed a ban on plying of pick-up vehicles between 7.45 am and 10 am in a bid to ease the traffic congestion during peak hours. Also, during the daytime, trucks supplying construction material into the town would not be allowed to ply on the circular road.

Further, police personnel are being deployed in greater numbers and at all crossings to ensure a smooth flow of traffic. Further, police riders are being deployed on roads from Shoghi towards Shimla and beyond.

Some measures with regard to schools have also been announced by the Shimla administration.

Schools will have to remain shut on all Saturdays in June so as to cope with the weekend tourist rush. The aim is also to reduce the inconvenience caused to school children.

Also this month, Tara Hall School will open at 8:00 am, 10 minutes ahead of schedule, while Auckland School will open at 8:30 am – both the schools will close at the usual time.

Magistrates have also been put on duty in a manner that they are on the road to monitor the situation in real time.

With regard to parking, the administration has said that when parking space is exhausted in the town, the Tutikandi parking will be thrown open for tourist vehicles. HRTC taxis will be put in service to ply from there every 10-15 minutes to take the tourists to the town.

Also, roadside parking on the circular road has been banned temporarily.

The administration has also asked the public to share any suggestions that have in order to further improve the traffic situation in Shimla.

Meanwhile, it may also be noted that Chandigarh to Shimla highway (NH5) was blocked on Wednesday following a landslide in Baruri, in Solan district.

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