Shimla, Nov. 30 -- The Shimla district administration has issued 760 sealed road passes for private/government vehicles since November 2024, permitting these vehicles to drive on the sealed roads of the city. This was submitted by the additional chief secretary (home) through an affidavit filed before the high court during resumed hearing of a public interest litigation PIL concerning hygiene and traffic management in Shimla. The affidavit filed on behalf of the additional chief secretary (home) to the Himachal Pradesh govt, said that 760 sealed road passes for private/government vehicles have been issued within a year from November, 2024 to November, 2025 in view of the provisions of Section 4 of the Shimla Road Users and Pedestrians (Public Safety and Convenience) Act, 2007. Raising serious concern over the sharp rise in sealed-road vehicle passes issued in Shimla, the division bench of Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj said, "We expect the competent authorities to keep in mind the observation made by us in the order dated September 5, 2025 that a large number of passes have been issued for vehiclesmaking it difficult for the pedestrians to move freely, while renewing passes for the sealed roads, from November, 2025." High court bench in its order of September 5, lamenting on the traffic situation in Shimla town, had observed "Shimla Town is losing its touch and culture of walking with 'Umbrella and Jacket' and it is being reduced to the same stage as Mussoorie where traffic is plying on sealed roads. Old Shimla is losing its charm which needs to be restored."...