Shimla Enforces Hefty Penalties on Road Rule Violators

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly has enacted stringent measures aimed at curbing unauthorized vehicle usage on sealed streets within Shimla. On Wednesday, the Assembly passed the Shimla Road Users and Pedestrians (Public Safety and Convenience) Amendment Bill, intensifying penalties to enforce compliance.

Under the new regulations, fines for driving on restricted roads without proper permits have increased dramatically. Violators of sealed road restrictions will now face fines of Rs 15,000, a sharp rise from the previous Rs 3,000 penalty. Unauthorized vehicular movement on restricted roads will incur a fine of Rs 5,000, up from Rs 1,000, while breaching permit conditions will incur a Rs 2,000 penalty.

Furthermore, the amendment transfers the authority to issue passes for these roads to the Home Secretary, formerly held by the deputy commissioner. This change, along with increased processing fees, is intended to ensure better adherence to traffic regulations and bolster public safety in Shimla.