SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday lifted traffic restrictions on the road from Chhota Shimla to Panthaghati Chowk.

This decision comes after the court’s previous orders to regulate traffic in Shimla’s congested areas, particularly around Sanjauli Bazaar and Chhota Shimla, aimed at easing the commute for schoolchildren, office-goers, and residents.

The order, part of a 2016 public interest litigation, was issued by a bench led by Acting Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Satyen Vaidya.

The court acknowledged improvements in road infrastructure, noting that recent widening and pedestrian pathways have eased congestion in the Chhota Shimla area, making the restrictions unnecessary.

The Court’s directive puts an end to idle parking on these roads, placing the responsibility for compliance on the Station House Officer (SHO) of Police Station East, Chhota Shimla.

Further, the court ordered the traffic authorities to enforce strict compliance with traffic regulations around Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Shimla, an area plagued by violations, impacting patients and visitors.

Concerns Over IGMC Parking and Access

Additionally, the court expressed its dissatisfaction over the slow pace of parking construction at IGMC.

Despite earlier directions, the facility, which is expected to ease parking woes at the state’s largest hospital, remains unfinished.

The court has now made Tenzin Construction Company, the firm responsible for the project, a respondent, directing it to ramp up resources to meet deadlines.

Moreover, the court took note of accessibility challenges at IGMC, with only a single narrow passage linking the D-block with the trauma center and new OPD.

To address this, the Chief Engineer of the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HPPWD) was ordered to file a status report on a proposed new passageway with lifts and a ramp to improve patient access, especially during emergencies.

The matter is scheduled for a follow-up hearing on November 12, 2024, where both Tenzin Construction Company and the Chief Engineer of HPPWD are expected to provide detailed updates on their respective assignments.