SHIMLA: As the summer tourist season kicks in, Shimla's traffic authorities are gearing up to tackle the growing congestion issues plaguing the city.
With the aim to prevent gridlock and ensure smooth traffic flow, the Superintendent of Police (SP) Shimla, in collaboration with the traffic department, has identified key areas of concern.
From the Railway 103 tunnel to Victory Tunnel and the HP LIFT and Parking Complex, traffic snarls have become a common sight, especially during peak hours.
Additionally, bottlenecks at Khalini, Sanjauli Chowk, and Dhalli Chowk, Hassan Valley sight seeing site exacerbate the situation, leading to frustration among commuters and tourists alike.
Most sufferers are the traveling public going uphill to the upper Shimla areas and coming downhill from their villages who get struck for hours from Kufri to Dhalli
In response to these challenges, a comprehensive plan has been put forth by the authorities.
Addressing the root causes of congestion, the plan includes measures such as:
Construction Management: Ensuring builders and contractors deploy personnel to manage traffic flow at construction sites, particularly during peak hours, to minimize disruptions.
Optimizing Road Capacity:
Enforcing parking regulations and encouraging adherence to timetables for route buses to alleviate congestion caused by idle parking on roadsides.
Tourist Management:
Advising tourists to utilize authorized parking slots and promote the use of local transportation for sightseeing to reduce the influx of vehicles during peak seasons.
Parking Space Enhancement:
Educating commuters about parking regulations and the benefits of alternative transportation modes, alongside developing smart parking solutions to optimize parking efficiency.
Geographical Challenges:
Involving the local community in traffic management decisions and drafting proposals tailored to address the city's unique geographical constraints.
Narrow Streets and Sharp Bends: Deploying police personnel to manage one-way traffic, installing clear traffic signs, enforcing parking restrictions, and providing safe pedestrian crossings to enhance road safety.
Pedestrian Movement:
Encouraging pedestrians to utilize footpaths and flyovers, advising against parking vehicles on roadsides while shopping, and promoting the use of public transport to ease traffic flow.
This proactive approach by the authorities aims to alleviate traffic congestion in Shimla city, ensuring a smoother and safer commuting experience for residents and visitors alike.
Led by ASP TTR Narbir Rathore, a dedicated team from the Traffic, Tourist, and Railway (TTR) department conducted a comprehensive survey under the directive of TTR DIG Gurdev Sharma.
Their mission: to pinpoint the major causes of traffic congestion and propose actionable solutions to SP Shimla.
In response to the team's report, SP Shimla is poised to implement a multifaceted strategy aimed at easing congestion and ensuring smooth traffic flow.
From coordinating construction management efforts to optimizing road capacity and enhancing parking space, the plan is geared towards addressing the root causes of congestion head-on.
How will the SP Shimla put it place in the city remains to be seen on the ground zero as elections are adding more traffic movement in the capital city.
The hoteliers and local residents have kept their fingers crossed as the tourist rush is about to gain momentum in days to come.
