Research Seminar

Assignment 03

Nityashree Uttarwar (19BAR021)

Nitya Bhargava (19BAR020)

Transportation System and Accessibility in Shimla

Introduction:

Shimla is the state capital and biggest city in Himachal Pradesh, India. Despite having a
population of only 0.16 million, it draws 2.8 million visitors each year. It serves as the
region's center for education and healthcare, and is spread out over seven hills, namely,
Jakhoo Hill, Elysium Hill, Museum Hill, Prospect Hill, Observatory Hill, Summer Hill and
Potters Hill. It is located in the foothills of the Himalayan mountain region, and
topographical limitations like steep slopes, elongated hills, and forest regions control the
growth pattern.

The hilly terrain of Shimla requires horizontal as well as vertical mobility due to
restrictions on traffic movement. While horizontal mobility is primarily on arterial
roads, vertical mobility options are limited to a lift between Mall Road and Cart Road, as
well as pathways or staircases connecting various streets.

Different modes of transportation in Shimla:

Shimla, being a popular hill station, has various modes of transportation available to
explore the city. Although there are many ways to travel through the city, the most
popular mode of transportation would be via the local buses. Overall, there is good
connectivity throughout the city by the HRTC Buses.

The various modes of transportation include:

● Local Buses (HRTC, JNNURM buses, Private buses permitted by HRTC)
● Taxis (Public taxis and HRTC permitted taxis)
● Toy Train
The Shimla-Kalka Toy Train stretch is a UNESCO World Heritage property. The 96 km
long track goes through 103 tunnels, 864 bridges and viaducts.
 Figure 1: Toy Train from Shimla to Kalkas
(Source: MaRS Planning & Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd. “Chapter 10:Tourism Profile.” Draft
Development Plan, Shimla Planning Area, 2041.)

● Private Vehicles
● Walking (Pedestrian Streets and Tourist Spots)
● Cable Car (Ropeways)

A modal share is the percentage of travelers using a particular type of transportation or

number of trips using said type.

Figure 2: Preferred mode of transport by the locals

(Data source: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh (India) - Ecologistics Project City Profile)
 Figure 3: Different modes of transportation
(Source: Household, Primary Survey 2018)

Figure 4: Traffic volume in Shimla

(Data Source: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh (India) - Ecologistics Project City Profile)
Pedestrian Movement:
The city of Shimla does not have adequate pedestrian infrastructure, with 42% of the
total trips being walk trips and only 16% of the road network having footpaths. The
existing footpath is also not continuous in nature. The existing pathways are a
To improve this, it has been suggested to adopt strategies such as grade separated
pedestrian crossing facilities, creation of Escalators, Lift, pathways for vertical
mobility, and pedestrian friendly street furniture.

Although roads inside the core of the city like Mall road are made free of motorized
vehicles and only for pedestrian use, with an exception of emergency vehicles. They
are connected to vehicular roads via lifts and stairways.

Figure 5: Pedestrian Movement

(Source: MaRS Planning & Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd. “Chapter 6: Traffic & Transportation.” Draft
Development Plan, Shimla Planning Area, 2041.)
Road Network:
The state has had a growing demand for movement of goods ever since its formation,
with the opening of new areas and increased reliance on road transport. This has led to
extreme pressures on the existing road network.

The roads of Shimla have less carriageway width due to limited scope of widening the
road. This causes a lot of traffic congestion.

The road network proves to be inadequate and is not able to keep up with the growing
quantity of vehicles and traffic in Shimla.

Figure 6: Existing road network and hierarchy in Shimla Planning Area

(Source: MaRS Planning & Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd. “Chapter 6: Traffic & Transportation.” Draft
Development Plan, Shimla Planning Area, 2041.)
 Figure 7: Accessibility to roads in Shimla Planning Area
(Source: Household, Primary Survey 2018)
Buses as Public Transportation:
Existing city bus service provided by Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) and
by private operators under HRTC permit is the only mode of public transport in Shimla
Planning Area.

Figure 8: Provision of Buses in Shimla

(Data Source: MaRS Planning & Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd. “Chapter 6: Traffic & Transportation.”
Draft Development Plan, Shimla Planning Area, 2041.)
Railways:
At present, there are only two narrow gauge railway lines connecting Shimla with Kalka
(96 km.) and Jogindernagar with Pathankot (113 km.), also known as Kangra valley
railway. Kalka Shimla Railway is designated as a ‘World Heritage’ railway by UNESCO.
The Railways prove to be inadequate according to the population of Shimla and the
yearly floating population.

Himachal Pradesh has only 4.32 route kms per lakh population which is lower than
the India average at 5.44.

In case of route kms per 1000 sq. kms of area, HP with only 5.32 route kilometers per
1000 sq. km, is much lower than the national average of 20 route kilometers per 1000
sq. km.

Civil Aviation:

Like railways, the presence of air transport in Himachal Pradesh is also negligible. At
present there are three airports in Himachal Pradesh, in Shimla, Kangra and
Kullu-Manali. Apart from that, there are 57 operational helipads and 12 new helipads
are also in service. To provide better connectivity and open up remote and tribal areas
to the tourists, the state government is planning to introduce heli-taxi services in the
state (Economic Survey of Himachal Pradesh 2013-14).

Issues and Potential of Transportation:

Transportation system in Shimla is crucial for the city's development as it is a popular

tourist destination and a major commercial center in the region. However, the
transportation system in Shimla faces several challenges that limit its potential.

Issues:

● Traffic Congestion: Shimla is a hilly city, and the narrow and winding roads often
result in traffic congestion, especially during peak tourist season.
● Limited Parking Space: Due to the limited availability of land, there is a severe
shortage of parking space in Shimla. This leads to congestion on the roads and
affects the smooth flow of traffic.
● Inadequate Public Transport: While the HPTC operates local buses, they are not
sufficient to meet the demand during peak season, resulting in overcrowding and
inconvenience to passengers.
 ● Limited Connectivity: Shimla is a landlocked city, and there are limited options for
connectivity via air and rail transport. The Shimla Airport is a small airport, and
the Kalka-Shimla Railway, while a popular tourist attraction, is a narrow gauge
railway, limiting its capacity.

Potentials:

● Promoting Sustainable Transportation: The hilly terrain of Shimla makes it ideal

for promoting sustainable transportation modes such as walking, cycling, and
e-rickshaws. The city administration can take steps to promote these modes of
transport to reduce congestion on the roads.
● Improving Public Transport: The city administration can take steps to improve the
local bus service by increasing the frequency of buses and adding more routes.
This can help reduce overcrowding and make public transport more accessible
and convenient for tourists and locals.
● Developing Multi-level Parking: The city administration can develop multi-level
parking facilities in strategic locations to ease parking woes in Shimla. This can
help reduce congestion on the roads and improve the flow of traffic.
● Expanding Air and Rail Connectivity: The state government can work towards
expanding air and rail connectivity to Shimla. This can help increase the inflow of
tourists and boost the city's economy.

Initiatives:

JNNURM
Shimla was included in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
(JNNURM) that was launched by the The Ministry of Urban Development in 2005.
Improving the current transport system to deal with the traffic related problems in Shimla
was one of the priority areas under the JNNURM wherein projects identified included
widening and strengthening of major and arterial roads; construction of bye-pass roads,
tunnels, overhead bridges and subways, etc.; development of alternate modes of
transport.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, while Shimla's transportation system faces several challenges, there is
immense potential for improving the system to promote sustainable transportation and
boost the city's growth. The city administration and the state government can work
together to address these challenges and tap into the city's potential.
References:

1. MaRS Planning & Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd. “Chapter 6: Traffic &
Transportation.” Draft Development Plan, Shimla Planning Area, 2041.
2. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh (India) - Ecologistics Project City Profile
3. Ropeways and Rapid Transport System Development Corporation H.P. Limited -
Request for proposal Volume 1
4. Green Growth and Transport in Himachal Pradesh - Department of Environment,
Science and Technology, Government of Himachal Pradesh, 2015