Shimla - In a first ground-zero initiative to tackle the traffic congestion woes plaguing the capital city, PWD and Youth Services and Sports Minister, Vikramaditya Singh today undertook a comprehensive inspection of the circular road in the city.
Aiming to bring relief to both local residents and tourists, Vikramaditya Singh announced plans to acquire land and widen the road, thereby making it a jam-free city in days to come.
But the main challenge is traffic mess gets unmanageable in peak hours and peak summer and winter months for the traffic police as entire city comes to halt in a gridlock.
Vikramaditya Singh personally surveyed the circular road.
The route covered traffic bottlenecks and hot spots like Sanjauli Chowk, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Lakkar Bazar, Victory Tunnel, and Chhota Shimla and HTDC Lift on the Cart Road.
He was accompanied by MLA Shimla Urban Harish Janartha, Deputy Commissioner Shimla Aditya Negi, Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, Sub Divisional Magistrate Shimla Urban Bhanu Gupta, Commissioner Municipal Corporation Shimla Bhupender Kumar and officials of the Revenue Department.
Following the inspection, Minister Singh expressed his commitment to improving the traffic situation in Shimla, acknowledging its significance as the political, administrative, and tourism capital of the state.
He said smooth traffic flow is crucial for the smooth run of city.
He revealed that Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu had given instructions to conduct the inspection and address the congestion-related issues.
He said the congested spots during peak hours have been identified and pledged to acquire land to widen these sections of the road.
To facilitate this process, a dedicated committee would be formed to devise a detailed action plan, which would be implemented after thorough discussions with Chief Minister.
In addition to the circular road, Minister Singh expressed his intentions to assess and address congestion problems on other major routes within the city in the near future.
He emphasized the need for adequate parking facilities, stating that efforts would be made to convert the long-pending proposal for parking construction on the Ring Road into a reality.
This initiative aimed to enhance the overall experience of tourists visiting Shimla.
Singh said a Rs 1700 Crore ropeway project, supported by the World Bank is underway.
This ambitious project will play a vital role in easing up traffic congestion in Shimla in the coming years, he said.
Vikramaditya Singh said inspection of the circular road is a first step towards a jam-free city.
He reaffirms his resolve to transform Shimla into a more accessible and convenient destination for both residents and visitors alike.
