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Himachal imposes Rs 15,000 fine for vehicles on Shimla's sealed roads

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly has passed a bill introducing steep penalties for unauthorized vehicles on Shimla's key pedestrian zones. Fines can reach Rs 15,000 for driving on sealed roads without a valid permit. The legislation also significantly increases permit fees and shifts some issuing authority to the Home Secretary. The move follows High Court observations and aims to reduce congestion and preserve the hill station's heritage walking culture.

Key Points: Rs 15,000 Fine for Shimla Road Violations | New HP Bill Passed

  • Rs 15,000 fine for sealed road violations
  • Permit fees hiked from Rs 2,500 to Rs 15,000 annually
  • Bill aims to restore Shimla's pedestrian culture
  • Authority for permits shifts to Secretary (Home)
2 min read

Himachal Assembly clears bill imposing Rs 15,000 fine for vehicle violations on Shimla's sealed roads

Himachal Assembly passes bill with heavy fines up to Rs 15,000 and higher permit fees for vehicles on Shimla's sealed and restricted heritage roads.

"losing its touch and culture of walking with umbrella and jacket - High Court of Himachal Pradesh"

Shimla, April 1

Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday passed the Shimla Road Users and Pedestrians Amendment Bill, 2026, introducing stringent penalties and higher permit fees to curb unauthorized vehicular movement in key pedestrian zones of the state capital.

The Bill, tabled a day earlier by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, was passed by voice vote without opposition, as BJP members had staged a walkout earlier in the day.

The legislation seeks to restore the traditional pedestrian culture of Shimla, often associated with walking along heritage stretches like the Mall Road by imposing steep fines on violators.

Under the new provisions, vehicles found plying on sealed roads without valid permits will face a penalty of Rs 15,000, while those entering restricted roads without permission will be fined Rs 5,000. Violations of permit conditions will attract a penalty of Rs 2,000.

The notified sealed and restricted stretches include prominent routes such as Navbahar to Ridge, Chhota Shimla to Mall and Ridge, IGMC to Ridge, AG Office to CTO, and Boulieganj via the Advance Study Centre to the Vidhan Sabha.

The Bill also proposes a significant hike in permit fees. The annual fee for sealed road permits has been increased from Rs 2,500 to Rs 15,000, while the daily permit fee will rise from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000. The processing fee for permits has also been enhanced from Rs 100 to Rs 500.

In an administrative change, the authority to issue permits for restricted roads will shift from the Deputy Commissioner to the Secretary (Home). The legislation further empowers authorised police personnel to compound offences on the spot by collecting up to 50 per cent of the prescribed penalty.

The move follows observations by the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, which, while hearing a public interest litigation on traffic and hygiene last year, had noted that Shimla was "losing its touch and culture of walking with umbrella and jacket" due to increasing vehicular movement on restricted roads. The court had also sought details of permits issued in such areas.

The government said the new law is aimed at reducing congestion, enhancing pedestrian safety, and preserving the heritage character of the hill town.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Rs 15,000 fine? That's extremely steep for the common person. What about residents who live on these roads? The permit fee hike from 2500 to 15000 is also too much. The intention is good but the implementation seems punitive.
A
Aman W
The High Court observation is spot on. Shimla's culture *is* walking with an umbrella and jacket. Last time I was there, the noise and fumes ruined the experience. Good move by the govt. Let's hope other hill stations like Manali and Mussoorie follow suit.
S
Sarah B
Interesting policy. The shift of permit authority to the Secretary (Home) seems like a centralization of power. I hope this doesn't lead to delays or corruption in the permit process. Transparency will be key.
V
Vikram M
As a Shimla local, I welcome this. But the government must also improve public transport connectivity to these sealed zones. You can't just ban cars without providing a reliable alternative. Where will tourists park?
K
Karthik V
Police can compound offences and collect 50% on the spot? This sounds like a recipe for hafta vasooli (extortion). The law is needed, but this provision needs careful monitoring to prevent misuse against tourists and outsiders.

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