The Himachal Pradesh High Court slammed Shimla’s traffic chaos, illegal parking, and garbage mismanagement, warning that the hill town is losing its walking culture and urgently needs restoration.
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Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating traffic and pedestrian conditions in Shimla, lamenting that the town is losing its cultural charm of “walking with umbrella and jacket”, a tradition once akin to Mussoorie in Uttarakhand.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) when it directed the state home secretary and superintendent of police, Shimla, to file a detailed status report on the issuance of vehicle passes for sealed roads. The court emphasized the need for strict regulation to restore Shimla’s pedestrian-friendly character.
The bench highlighted that several vehicle passes have been issued for the sealed stretch from Shilli Chowk/Shimla Club to Chhotta Shimla, creating hardships for pedestrians. The judges noted that this unchecked vehicular access has significantly disrupted free movement in areas traditionally reserved for walkers.
The court also expanded the scope of the PIL by observing that vehicles were being parked on the restricted Mall Road stretch from Rock Sea Hotel to Willow Bank. It made it clear that permissions for drop-offs cannot be misused for overnight parking:
“Even if permission is granted for vehicles for drop-off and if passes are there, there is no question that such permission can be utilised for parking the vehicles overnight. It can only be treated as a drop zone at the maximum,”
the bench stated.
The PIL, filed by petitioner Sambhav Bhasin, also sought directions for maintaining hygiene and removing garbage dumped on the public road from the Army Training Command to Ram Bazar, besides seeking clear parking guidelines for two-wheelers.
The High Court, after reviewing photographs attached to the petition, observed a “dismal state of affairs”. Vehicles parked along the roads have not only blocked pedestrian pathways but also contributed to garbage piles, with residents dumping waste behind parked vehicles.
The bench strongly criticized the municipal corporation, observing that there is “a lack of exercise of adequate powers” in ensuring proper sanitation and regulation of vehicular movement.
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The matter is scheduled for further hearing on October 10, when the state authorities are expected to submit a comprehensive report addressing vehicle pass regulations, parking practices, and measures to restore pedestrian-friendly spaces in Shimla.
