Shimla at a Standstill: Tourists Trapped, Locals Frustrated as Traffic Chaos Peaks

What should have been a peaceful summer Sunday in Shimla turned into a day of frustration and gridlock, as the city experienced one of its worst traffic jams of the season. From early morning, vehicles crawled at a snail’s pace from Kachighatti to Dhalli, leaving thousands of tourists and locals stranded for hours under the scorching sun.

Major roads across the city — from Khalini, BCS, Kasumpti, and Panthaghati to the Shimla-Dhalli bypass — were choked with bumper-to-bumper traffic. Even inner-city routes like Victory Tunnel to Lakkar Bazaar and Sanjauli were completely jammed, cutting off access between key parts of the city.

The culprit? A massive influx of tourist vehicles, worsened by reckless roadside parking and Shimla’s narrow, aging roads. “It’s not just a traffic jam anymore — it’s a complete breakdown,” said a weary resident from Panthaghati.

For many tourists, the dream of a cool mountain escape quickly turned into a nightmare. Social media was flooded with posts from visitors stuck in traffic, missing hotel check-ins, and canceling sightseeing plans. “We thought Shimla would be peaceful, but this is worse than Delhi’s traffic,” said a tourist from Chandigarh, stranded near Sanjauli.

The problem isn’t new. Shimla’s vehicle registrations have surged by over 300% in the past two decades, yet the road infrastructure has barely changed. According to a study by the Centre for Sustainable Mobility and Urban Planning, the city’s roads are now operating far beyond their capacity, especially during the tourist-heavy months of May to July. Average vehicle speeds drop to under 10 km/h on major routes like ISBT–Lakkar Bazaar and Sanjauli–Dhalli.

Experts point to a lack of public transport, poor enforcement of parking rules, and the absence of real-time traffic monitoring as key contributors to the crisis. Despite years of discussions around solutions like park-and-ride systems, satellite parking, and even ropeways and pod taxis, little has been implemented.

Local businesses are feeling the pinch too. Tour operators and hoteliers report growing dissatisfaction among tourists, some of whom are now opting for quieter destinations in Himachal and Uttarakhand.

With the monsoon season approaching, residents fear that landslides and waterlogging will only worsen the situation. “Shimla is choking — not just on traffic, but on years of inaction,” said a shopkeeper near Lakkar Bazaar.

For now, Shimla waits — gridlocked and gasping — hoping for more than just promises.