Shimla MC to levy garbage collection fee on outstation vehicles

The Shimla Municipal Corporation has decided to impose garbage collection charges on vehicles entering the city from other states. The proposal, passed in the corporation’s general house meeting chaired by Mayor Surinder Chauhan, will now be forwarded to the state government.

Mini buses and tempo travellers will be charged Rs 80, HRTC buses Rs 100 and Volvo or deluxe buses Rs 120. To facilitate this, collection centres will be set up at major entry points. Essential service vehicles such as ambulances, fire tenders, police and other government vehicles will be exempt.

Mayor Chauhan said the funds raised will be utilised to make Shimla cleaner. A Rs 500 fine will be imposed on vehicles refusing to pay the charge. Earlier, the MC announced plans to collect garbage from all vehicles entering Shimla, backed by the setting up of garbage collection centres. This step followed concerns despite state government orders mandating dustbins in all vehicles, passengers had no proper place to dispose

of waste.