₹10,000 Fine, Jail Term Proposed as Shimla Road Pass Charges Set to Rise
Shimla: Travelling on sealed and restricted roads in the state capital is set to become significantly expensive, with the Himachal Pradesh government proposing a fivefold increase in pass fees along with stricter penalties for violations.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday tabled the Public Safety and Convenience (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Legislative Assembly, aiming to tighten regulation of vehicular movement and improve pedestrian safety in Shimla.
The proposed amendment seeks changes to three sections of the existing law and introduces a new provision. Under Section 6, the processing fee for obtaining or renewing a pass for regulated roads is proposed to be increased from ₹100 to ₹500. The pass issuance fee will see a sharp jump from ₹2,000 to ₹10,000.
Similarly, under Section 7, the processing fee for restricted roads will rise from ₹100 to ₹500, while the pass fee is proposed to increase from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000.
The amendment also targets temporary passes. As per Section 8, the application fee will be raised from ₹200 to ₹1,000. In addition, users will have to pay a daily fee of ₹500, replacing the current ₹100 charge, for a maximum period of seven days.
In a move to enforce compliance, the government has proposed stricter penalties under Section 12. Driving on regulated roads without a valid pass could attract a fine of ₹10,000, while violations on restricted roads may lead to a ₹5,000 penalty. Earlier, the fine was ₹3,000. The bill also introduces the provision of imprisonment ranging from 10 to 15 days, depending on the nature of the offence.
