SHIMLA: Heavy trucks entering Shimla’s congested roads during peak hours to load and unload goods have emerged as a major trigger for traffic chaos, with commuters questioning why commercial establishments are being allowed to occupy busy roads when traffic is at its peak.
The latest flashpoint was near Mahunag Hardware, close to New Shimla police station, where a heavy multi-axle truck was brought in to unload material around the evening rush hour.
The truck was reportedly parked on the roadside, severely restricting the carriageway and triggering long traffic snarls on the BCS–Vikasnagar bypass road.
Commuters allege that Mahunag Hardware is not alone. Kabari Walla, Diamond and Atithi’s Store are also being blamed for loading and unloading material during peak traffic hours, adding to congestion on already overstretched roads. Kabari Walla load and unload trucks whenever he pleases, causing traffic disruption throughout the day, complained locals
Why doesn't DC Shimla ban entry of trucks in peak hours and issue timings for such loading and unloading and take punitive action against violators?
Residents say commercial loading and unloading should be shifted to off-peak hours, preferably after 9 pm, instead of being carried out when evening office and tourist traffic and public transport are flooding the roads.
What has further angered commuters is the alleged dumping of construction and hardware material along the roadside near Mahunag Hardware. Sand, bricks, construction material and other hardware items reportedly remain piled along the road, further narrowing the space available for moving traffic.
The bigger question, commuters say, is not merely why businesses are unloading goods during rush hours, but where traffic enforcement disappears when these operations take place.
Mahunag Hardware is located close to the New Shimla police station, yet commuters claim there is hardly any visible policing when heavy trucks arrive, park on the roadside and begin unloading during peak traffic.
“Why are challans not being issued and why are heavy vehicles being allowed to occupy the road during the busiest hours?” commuters questioned.
The same problem is visible on the BCS–Khalini–Vikasnagar Shimla bypass corridor, where illegal parking, roadside dumping and construction material routinely reduce road capacity. At Chhota Shimla, road-widening work has created another bottleneck, with construction material allegedly being unloaded directly on or beside the carriageway.
Residents say Shimla cannot afford such casual traffic management on roads already carrying traffic beyond their capacity.
They want the police and traffic authorities to enforce fixed timings for heavy commercial vehicles and loading-unloading operations, clear roadside material immediately, penalise illegal parking and ensure that trucks do not enter key congested corridors during peak hours.
If heavy vehicles are allowed to enter, stop and unload wherever they please during rush hour, who is responsible for the traffic mess—and why are challans so conspicuously absent, said VP Singh, a local resident who got stranded near Mahunag Hardware shop near BCS.
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