Shimla, June 3
Shimla witnessed major traffic disruptions following a protest by lawyers, prompting strong criticism from the Chief Minister’s Principal Media Advisor, Naresh Chauhan, who said the issue could have been resolved through dialogue rather than blocking roads and inconveniencing the public.
Reacting to the protest held a day earlier, Chauhan stated that the demonstration brought the city’s traffic system to a standstill for nearly three to four hours, causing severe inconvenience to commuters and residents. He said lawyers, being well-versed in the law, were expected to act responsibly and avoid taking matters into their own hands.
Chauhan emphasized that restricted roads in Shimla are governed by uniform rules and no individual or group can be granted special exemptions. He added that the Chief Minister has already agreed to hold discussions with lawyers and form a committee to address their concerns.
Highlighting Shimla’s existing traffic challenges, Chauhan noted that congestion worsens during the tourism season. Due to the protest, roads around Chhota Shimla remained blocked for nearly three hours, affecting movement across several routes throughout the day.
He explained that certain roads around Shimla’s Mall Road are categorized as restricted zones to preserve the city’s character and manage congestion. These roads cannot be opened for regular vehicular movement, and only limited permits are issued. According to him, the increase in permit fees was intended to control the number of vehicles, not to generate revenue.
Questioning the need for the blockade, Chauhan said avenues for dialogue were already open. “Traffic management is the responsibility of the police. Stopping vehicles on roads is not the right of lawyers or any other group,” he remarked.
He further stated that advocates had been invited to discuss the matter, but instead of participating in the talks, they resorted to a road blockade, which he described as unjustified. Police have registered a case in connection with the incident, and action will be taken in accordance with the law.
