Himachal Pradesh Faces Tourist Surge and Traffic Chaos

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announces lenient measures for drunk tourists amidst efforts to capitalize on tourism potential.

• Himachal Pradesh sees a surge in tourists during the Christmas and New Year season, with over 65,000 tourists thronging areas like Manali, Shimla, and Kullu.
• The influx of tourists has led to severe traffic congestion in these areas, with reports of long traffic jams and vehicle breakdowns.
• In response to the situation, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that drunk tourists will not face jail time but will instead be escorted back to their hotels by the police.
• The state government is making efforts to capitalize on the tourism potential, as tourism contributes to 7.3% of the state's GDP, especially after the economic losses due to the floods earlier this year.
• The traffic congestion was not limited to Himachal Pradesh, with similar situations reported on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and in Bengaluru.

3 Articles

mint mint mint