ADB-backed project aims to ease congestion at Old Bus Stand, Lift parking and Cart Road
Shimla: In a major step towards tackling chronic traffic congestion in Shimla, the Himachal Pradesh government has proposed the construction of an 841-metre-long cable-stayed bridge from Hotel Holiday Home to the Railway Parking under a ₹2,200 crore urban traffic improvement project. The bridge is expected to significantly reduce traffic pressure on the city’s busiest stretches, particularly around the Old Bus Stand and Lift parking area.
The ambitious project, which will be implemented by the Himachal Pradesh Road and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (HPRIDC), has been included as a priority component of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded traffic decongestion plan for Shimla.
According to officials, the proposed bridge will feature a semi-circular design. Of the total 841-metre length, around 500 metres will comprise a cable-stayed structure, while the remaining 341 metres will connect to the Railway Parking through a series of supporting pillars. Around five to six pillars are proposed on the Krishna Nagar and Lalpani side.
A preliminary assessment of the land required for the project has already been completed. However, the final cost of construction will be determined only after the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Officials said HPRIDC will soon appoint a consultancy agency to prepare the DPR. Before finalising the proposal, the corporation carried out a comprehensive study of traffic movement on Cart Road, examining daily vehicle volumes, congestion points and traffic flow patterns. The findings formed the basis for the cable-stayed bridge proposal, while departmental engineers have already completed the preliminary survey.
Following the initial survey, the proposal will now be submitted to the state government for approval to prepare the DPR.
Once completed, the bridge will provide a direct route between the Railway Parking and the open bend near Hotel Holiday Home, allowing vehicles travelling to and from Chandigarh and the lower districts of Himachal Pradesh to bypass the heavily congested Old Bus Stand and Lift parking stretch.
The new connectivity will benefit commuters heading towards Sanjauli, Chhota Shimla and Kasumpti, enabling them to access these areas directly through the bridge instead of passing through the city’s most congested corridor.
Officials believe the project will substantially reduce traffic load on the main road between the Old Bus Stand and Hotel Holiday Home. The stretch will then primarily cater to city buses and tourist vehicles, resulting in smoother traffic movement and shorter travel times.
Besides the cable-stayed bridge, the proposed ₹2,200 crore ADB-funded traffic improvement project also includes the construction of new tunnels, the MLA Crossing project and the Chakkar bifurcation flyover, aimed at providing a long-term solution to Shimla’s growing traffic challenges. Once implemented, the integrated infrastructure projects are expected to significantly improve urban mobility and ease congestion in the state capital.
