Shimla: Summer holidays have triggered a sharp rise in tourist arrivals to Himachal Pradesh, with large numbers of visitors from Delhi, Punjab and Haryana travelling to the state’s popular hill destinations. The influx has led to heavy traffic congestion in and around Shimla, one of the region’s most visited tourist hubs.
According to official estimates, nearly 1.5 million vehicles entered Shimla between May 1 and June 15. The increased traffic has resulted in frequent congestion on highways and key link roads leading to the city.
Hotel operators said tourist occupancy has remained strong throughout the season, reaching around 60–70 percent on regular days and climbing to 80–90 percent during weekends.
To manage the growing rush, Shimla Police has implemented a special five-point traffic management plan. Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said efforts are focused on ensuring the smooth movement of vehicles on internal roads and removing traffic bottlenecks across the city.
As part of the plan, authorities have deployed 210 additional police personnel, home guards and volunteers. Shimla has been divided into five sectors, with each sector placed under the supervision of a gazetted officer.
Police have also increased the number of motorcycle patrol teams to 32 for quicker response to traffic disruptions. Interceptor vehicles have been deployed to monitor traffic violations, while additional personnel have been stationed at major parking areas to facilitate vehicle movement and prevent congestion.
Officials said the enhanced arrangements are helping authorities handle the seasonal tourist rush more effectively and maintain smoother traffic flow across the city.
