Amid rising temperatures, tourists are increasingly heading to mountain destinations, resulting in a sharp rise in visitor numbers in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district.
Speaking to ANI, Kullu Superintendent of Police Madan Lal Kaushal said the number of tourists has increased significantly over the past few days, with nearly 25,000 to 27,000 small and large vehicles entering the area. To manage the rush and ensure smooth traffic movement, the district police deployed around 150 police personnel and home guards, including 60 to 70 personnel in Manali alone.
“The flow of tourists has increased a lot… 25 to 27 thousand large and small vehicles have entered here… Tourists are visiting here safely… We have deployed 60 to 70 of our personnel in Manali… The district police have deployed 150 police personnel and home guards… We appeal to tourists not to trespass,” Kaushal said.
Shimla manages traffic
Meanwhile, Shimla Police on Saturday claimed to have successfully managed an unprecedented influx of vehicles, ensuring smooth traffic movement through the district without major congestion, an official said on Saturday.
Speaking to ANI, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Abhishek, Shimla, said the tourist season is currently at its peak, with nearly 7.8 lakh vehicles crossing the major entry points in the district, including Shoghi, Bilaspur, Kinnaur and other border checkpoints, in the last 29 days.
“Despite the peak tourist season and heavy influx of vehicles, Shimla Police has ensured smooth traffic without major congestion. We urge tourists to use Shoghi-Mehli Bypass and follow traffic rules for a comfortable journey,” Shimla Additional Superintendent of Police said.
“The tourist season is at its peak. In the last 29 days, around 7,80,000 vehicles have entered the area through various entry points. Despite such a huge volume of traffic, the Shimla Police managed the situation effectively and there was no major traffic jam anywhere. The traffic continued to move smoothly,” the officer said.
ASP attributed the successful traffic management to a combination of strategic planning, increased deployment of traffic personnel and the use of mobile traffic riders.
He said: “Our primary focus is to increase the number of traffic riders. Based on our experience, traffic riders are highly effective because they are mobile and can respond quickly to any situation. Their deployment has greatly helped in preventing and resolving traffic congestion.”
