The Himachal Pradesh Assembly approved the Shimla Road Users and Pedestrians (Public Safety and Convenience) Amendment Bill, 2026, on Wednesday. This legislation introduces significant penalties for vehicles operating on sealed roads without valid permits, with fines set at ₹15,000 for sealed roads and ₹5,000 for restricted roads. The annual fee for permits to access sealed roads will increase from ₹2,500 to ₹10,000, while daily permit fees will rise from ₹200 to ₹1,000. The bill also transfers the authority to issue permits from the Deputy Commissioner to the Secretary (Home), and the processing fee for permits will increase from ₹100 to ₹500. The bill was motivated by a September 2022 ruling from the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which highlighted the need to restore Shimla's pedestrian culture and prevent it from becoming overrun with traffic, similar to Mussoorie. The bill passed without opposition, as BJP legislators had walked out prior to the vote.