HC notice to state govt, civic body on traffic mismanagement,

The Himachal Pradesh High Court today issued notices to the state government and Shimla Municipal Corporation on "mismanagement of traffic and unauthorized parking of vehicles" here and directed them to come out with a long-term plan to regulate traffic in the city, other district headquarters and tourist places.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, passed the orders on a petition filed by one Dharam Pal Thakur of Panthaghati, Shimla, treating it as a Public Interest Litigation.
The Court directed the state government to file a status report on the implementation of the Shimla Road Users and Pedestrians (Public Safety and Convenience) Act, 2007 and also to furnish the list of permits granted by the authorities for plying of vehicles on sealed and restricted roads.

The Court also directed the authorities to furnish an affidavit stating whether CCTV cameras have been deployed and fixed at entry points and what mechanism is in place to check and deter unnecessary vehicles on sealed and restricted roads, whether traffic police are manning the entry points to these roads and proper signals have been fixed, report on proper usage of earmarked parking places and also on steps taken to prevent unauthorized parking.
The petition alleged the authorities have failed to diligently perform their duties, leading to chaos and haphazardness, which has made day-to-day movement of residents and tourists very difficult.

It alleged the authorities are lax in implementation of Shimla Road Users Act, traffic police deployment on sealed and restricted roads is insufficient, parking on such roads is not permitted but these have virtually become parking lots for the vehicles of the high and mighty.