350-Vehicle Parking Facility, Two New Bypasses Planned to Ease Dharamshala Traffic

Dharamshala, January 24, 2026: On the initiative of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, a comprehensive plan has been prepared to improve Dharamshala’s traffic management and parking infrastructure. As part of the plan, a parking facility with a capacity of around 350 vehicles will be constructed at the site of the historic Raja Raghubir Singh Club in Kotwali Bazaar.
 
In addition, two new bypass roads are proposed to provide smooth access to the HPCA International Cricket Stadium. The projects, estimated to cost ₹5.50 crore, aim to reduce congestion in the city, particularly during cricket matches and peak tourist seasons. The Public Works Department (PWD) has prepared the detailed project reports and forwarded them to higher authorities for approval.
 
Former Mayor and State Congress Executive Committee member Devendra Jaggi said the Raja Raghubir Singh Club premises, spread over approximately 6.5 kanals of government land in the heart of Kotwali Bazaar, have been identified to address the acute parking shortage in the city’s oldest and busiest commercial area. He said the club will be relocated, and its dilapidated building will be demolished to make way for a multi-level or large surface parking facility.
 
Jaggi further stated that traffic congestion in Dharamshala intensifies during domestic and international cricket matches. To resolve this issue, two alternative routes are being planned to allow direct access to the stadium without entering the city. One bypass will connect the stadium to Pasu Shila, linking it directly with nearby rural areas, while the second route will connect Charan Khadd on Palampur Road to the stadium.
 
He said the plan has been formulated keeping in view the rapidly increasing vehicular pressure in Dharamshala, which has emerged as an international tourist destination. “The Chief Minister has made budgetary provisions for these projects,” Jaggi said, adding that during weekends and peak tourist seasons, over 5,000 vehicles enter the city daily, often resulting in traffic jams lasting several hours due to inadequate parking facilities.
 
He also informed that the proposed bypass roads will facilitate VIP movement and help manage large crowds during IPL and international cricket matches, ensuring smoother traffic flow in the city.