Shimla-Kalka National Highway clogged with traffic jams as tourists flock to hill stations
Due to the scorching heat in the plains, a large number of people throng to the hill resorts of Shimla, Narkanda, Kufri, Chail and areas in Kinnaur district.
The Shimla-Kalka National Highway has been clogged with traffic jams near the Parwanoo toll barrier and Kandaghat area during the weekend as a large number of tourists who are fleeing the plains to visit hill stations, reported PTI.
Long queues of vehicles were seen near the excise collection toll barrier at Parwanoo and Kandaghat. The road at Kandaghat being under construction caused the traffic jams to worsen.
Also Read: Authorities mull traffic reforms as over 3 lakh vehicles enter Himachal's Shimla in 2 weeks
The situation has improved and the vehicles are now moving, Solan deputy commissioner Manmohan Sharma told PTI on Saturday evening.
Solan superintendent of police Gaurav Singh said tourist inflow to the state is heavy during the weekends and about 7,000 vehicles entered Solan in five hours on Saturday. He added that 2.5 lakh vehicles have entered Shimla from June 1 to 9.
Also Read: ‘We have two choices’: Bengaluru resident proposes solution to city’s traffic woes, sparks debate
"I just have a two-day holiday and one day is wasted in traffic," said Prateek, a tourist from Faridabad said about the situation, reported PTI.
"Reaching Shimla or any other hill station for that matter is a tough task. The governments of tourism states should seriously think about making tourists' stay and commuting comfortable," said Mayank from Lucknow. He added that he was stuck in a 2 km jam.
Also Read: Bengaluru traffic ‘5X worse’ after bike taxi ban? Residents complain of choking roads
Data from the Shimla district administration showed that over three lakh vehicles entered Shimla in the past two weeks alone. Of these, around 1.5 vehicles were tourist vehicles that made their way into the hill station.
"From June 1 to June 15, about 1,26,000 vehicles entered Shimla via Solan. In addition, around 40,000 vehicles had entered the capital before June 1 and exited during this period. Counting both entries and exits, the total vehicle movement has crossed three lakh in just 15 days. Daily, around 20,000 vehicles, mostly from other states, are entering Shimla. The traffic congestion is immense, and it's undeniable," said Shimla deputy commissioner Anupam Kashyap to ANI.
