Shimla is historically a town which relied on walking as a primary means of travel and transport. The predominance of pedestrian travel is ingrained into the culture and infrastructure of the city. It is quite typical for people to meet and greet while walking on the Mall road. Sales are highest on roads with pedestrians than those with vehicular traffic. Even today, goods are often carried on backs to their final destinations by laborers.

The slower pace of pedestrian travel and transport has yielded to vehicular traffic on most roads. The increased affordability of cars and the lack of public transport options has crowded public spaces with vehicles, to the point of walking often being faster than cars in many instances! In the absence of public transport, taxi services have become ubiquitous, with rates often comparable to those in New York or Singapore, without the enforcement of standardized charges.

We outline here the current scenario, and propose solutions for Shimla to build India’s most productive transport system, that serves the local businesses and community, with lower investments in infrastructure, while providing structured careers instead of just jobs for those in the sector.

The current scenario

Jams, parking, private investment over public, ropeways – benefits and challenges, enforcement, future with current policies, no city has resolved its traffic issues with more infrastructure to cater to private vehicular traffic. Police deployment every 100m.Ambulance abuse.

Objectives of a productive system

20 minute travel times between chowks, frequency, capacity for tourist influx, delightful.

The solution

metro like connectivity of all transport options, shared ticketing, key technologies for enforcement, digital options, luggage/strechers/wheel chairs. 24 hour service, centralized monitoring of public policy and private action.

Employment and careers – from digital, ai to drivers and policement.