Hundreds of commuters faced severe inconvenience in Shimla on Tuesday after a road blockade by advocates over an access-related issue led to a massive traffic jam across major parts of the city, leaving residents, students and motorists stranded for hours.
The protest, which disrupted vehicular movement near Chota Shimla and adjoining areas, coincided with the ongoing peak tourist season, aggravating congestion in the hill town already reeling from increased traffic pressure.
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Speaking to ANI, Sonal Sharma, a resident of the area, said that the traffic congestion has greatly affected daily commuters.
“I am standing in the toll area and I need to reach Sangoli, which is just about four kilometers from here. I came to know that human rights defenders have gone on strike in Chota Shimla over some issues related to challan. Such situations are very common in Shimla because protests are often held near the secretariat,” she said.
Sharma said that the current tourist season has increased the traffic burden.
“It is the peak season in summer, and there are a lot of tourists. Traffic is diverted, buses are delayed, and we waited for nearly 10 to 15 minutes for the bus. Congestion is a big problem for Shimla because the city is designed for a limited population, but the population and tourism have expanded rapidly,” she told ANI.
School taxi driver Amit Kumar expressed concern over the plight of children stranded in vehicles due to traffic blockade.
“School ended at 1:20 p.m., and our car has been parked since about 1:30 p.m.,” he said. “There are 22 children in the car and their parents are constantly calling and asking when they will get home. At this hour, it was normal for many of the children to have already arrived home.”
Kumar urged the administration to ensure that school vehicles are not affected during such protests.
“The administration should think about this matter. At least school vehicles carrying children should not be stopped in such situations,” he added.
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Kajal, a local resident, said that passengers are facing huge difficulties due to the disruption.
“We are facing a lot of problems due to traffic congestion. We had to change buses and travel through different routes, but we still cannot find a suitable means of transportation. I am now walking with my child due to the traffic situation,” she told ANI.
She attributed the crowding to the lawyers’ strike, and said that the disturbance made travel very difficult for residents. Traffic congestion led to long queues of vehicles on several roads, causing delays for office-goers, students and tourists. The authorities are making efforts to regulate traffic and remove congestion in the affected areas.
