Shimla Ward Watch Summer Hill: Roadside parking worsens traffic woes

Navneet Rathore

Shimla, February 28

Vehicles parked on the roadside in the Summer Hill ward of the Shimla Municipal Corporation lead to jams, affecting the day-to-day life of residents.

Summer Hill, where Himachal Pradesh University is located, witnesses a large number of vehicles on a daily basis. Due to lack of parking facilities, people are forced to park their vehicles on the roadside.

Students face inconvenience

• Summer Hill, where Himachal Pradesh University is located, witnesses a large number of vehicles on a daily basis. Due to lack of parking facilities, people are forced to park their vehicles on the roadside.
• Commuters, including students, face inconvenience due to the traffic jams, which have become a routine affair on the Summer Hill- Boileauganj road.

Commuters, including students, face inconvenience due to the traffic jams, which have become a routine affair on the Summer Hill- Boileauganj road.

Ashvani Kumar, a resident of Summer Hill ward, said, “The university does not allow outsiders to park their vehicles on the campus due to which people park their vehicles on the roadside near the market, resulting in traffic jams. Shopkeepers find it difficult to do their day-to-day business here.”

Places identified

I have identified a few places for the construction of parking space in the ward and sent a resolution in this regard, which has been passed. Recently, a ward sabha was organised in which various issues of residents were raised and most of these have been resolved. — Virender Thakur, Councillor

“Anyone visiting the university should be allowed to park their vehicles on the campus so that they do not have to park these on the roadside,” he added.

Shopkeepers in the Summer Hill market say due to lack of slops on the road, water enter their shops during the during the monsoon, leaving their shops damaged.

Rajesh, a resident of Summer Hill, who runs an eatery in the market, said the ward also grapples with irregular water supply, causing a lot of inconvenience to local residents.

Several vegetable sellers also complaint of the stray cattle and monkey menace. They say monkeys steal their vegetables and try to attack the customers.

Talking to The Tribune, Virender Thakur, councillor, Summer Hill, said, “I have identified a few places for the construction of parking space in the ward and sent a resolution in this regard, which has been passed. Recently, a ward sabha was organised in which various issues of residents were raised and most of these have been resolved.”