Shimla, April 2 -- With an aim to restore Shimla town's culture of walking with 'umbrella' and 'jacket', Himachal Pradesh assembly passed the Shimla Road Users and Pedestrians (Public Safety and Convenience) Amendment Bill, 2026, on Wednesday, providing hefty fines for the vehicles plying on sealed and restricted roads in Shimla town without a valid permit.

Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had tabled the Bill on Tuesday, which proposes stricter penalties and higher permit fees for vehicles entering restricted areas, including the Mall Road. The bill was passed by voice vote without any opposition and the BJP legislators had walked out the House earlier during the day.

The bill provides that the vehicles found plying on sealed roads...