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Court Warns: Shimla's Pedestrian Soul at Risk
10 Sep
Summary
- Court questions renewal of hundreds of vehicle passes for Shimla's sealed roads.
- Traffic growth threatens to erode Shimla's historic pedestrian-friendly identity.
- State government ordered to reduce vehicles on restricted roads by November 17.
The Himachal Pradesh high court has expressed grave concern regarding the proliferation of vehicles on Shimla's restricted roads, warning that this unchecked traffic is diminishing the hill town's cherished pedestrian-friendly nature. The court scrutinized the renewal and issuance of hundreds of vehicle permits, particularly questioning if recipients genuinely require access. An affidavit revealed 318 permits renewed and 44 new ones issued for key sealed stretches.
The division bench stressed Shimla's identity is tied to its pedestrian culture, fearing a loss of its distinctive character, akin to impacts seen in other hill stations. The court mandated that priority for access be given to local residents whose homes are only reachable via sealed roads. Authorities are directed to undertake an exercise to significantly decrease the number of vehicles using these restricted areas, with the next hearing scheduled for November 17.
This intervention follows prior concerns raised in November last year about indiscriminate pass renewals, which were making pedestrian movement difficult. An earlier report indicated nearly 760 sealed-road passes had been issued between November 2024 and November 2025.
