Shimla packed: 85,000 vehicles in 3 days; Here's alternate route suggested by Police

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), June 8: Thousands of tourists are flocking to Himachal Pradesh's hill stations to escape the scorching temperatures of North India.

In recent days, Shimla has witnessed severe traffic congestion due to the heavy influx of tourists, especially from Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and other north Indian states.

Due to severe traffic congestion, the local authorities have issued a traffic advisory for visitors heading to Shimla and other destinations.

According to Shimla Police, more than 85,000 vehicles have entered and exited the Shimla region over the past 72 hours, reflecting a sharp rise in tourist movement during the ongoing summer vacation season.

You can use these alternate routes

To ease congestion within the city, police have advised tourists travelling from the Chandigarh-Solan side and heading towards destinations beyond Shimla, including Kufri, Mashobra, Naldehra, Narkanda, Hatu Peak and Fagu, to use the Shoghi-Mehli-Dhali bypass route instead of entering the city centre.

Officials said the 33-kilometre bypass route directly connects travellers to Bhattakufer and Dhali, helping them avoid heavily congested roads within Shimla. The alternative route is expected to significantly reduce travel time and improve traffic flow during the peak tourist season.

According to police officials, a recent traffic trial revealed that vehicles using the bypass route reached destinations such as Mashobra nearly 20 minutes faster than those travelling through Shimla's traditional city routes.

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Reason behind the tourist surge in Shimla

The surge in tourist arrivals comes as temperatures in several parts of the Delhi-NCR region and North India have hovered around 45 degrees Celsius, driving families, students and holidaymakers towards cooler hill destinations.

Apart from Shimla, popular tourist hubs such as Kullu and Manali are also witnessing a significant increase in visitor numbers, putting pressure on local infrastructure and road networks.

Authorities expect tourist traffic to rise further in the coming weeks as schools remain closed for summer vacations. Police have urged visitors to follow traffic advisories, use designated bypass routes and cooperate with authorities to ensure smoother travel and reduce congestion on Shimla's busy roads.

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Officials said adherence to the advisory will not only help visitors reach their destinations faster but also ease pressure on the city's narrow roads, which are struggling to cope with the unprecedented volume of vehicles entering the region.

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