The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a protest at Lakkar Bazaar on September 7, 2026, against Shimla Municipal Corporation’s move to evict street vendors, rehri-pheri workers and small traders. Vendors gathered under the Tahbazari Union banner, set up stalls and sold goods despite police presence, creating a tense situation.

CITU leaders Vijender Mehra, Prem Gautam, Amit Kumar, Bal Ram and Vivek Kashyap said thousands of Shimla families depend on street vending and should not be treated as encroachers. They challenged the corporation’s cited concerns about a sinking zone, pedestrian obstruction and traffic congestion, alleging the site was later used to park municipal heavy vehicles.

CITU demanded that Lakkar Bazaar remain a vending zone, that vendors removed elsewhere receive viable alternative sites, and that concerns be addressed through dialogue and scientific planning. It questioned sites including the roof of Aajivika Bhawan and Bhajji House, and sought implementation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, vendor surveys and registration, vending certificates, adequate zones, and an end to arbitrary challans, goods seizures and alleged harassment.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court directed the Shimla Municipal Corporation to explore multi-storey parking at Lakkar Bazaar as traffic rises with more vehicles entering Shimla.

Himachal Pradesh will revitalise Shimla’s Ice-Skating Rink at Lakkar Bazar, established in 1920, with a ₹20.22 crore redevelopment. Old Club House Buildings I and II and the servant residence will be demolished. The upgraded facility is intended to support ice hockey, figure skating, training and competitions, and host national and international events.

• Ice-skating rink infrastructure: ₹16.09 crore
• New Club House Building: ₹2.81 crore
• Store, souvenir shop and basic amenities: ₹1.21 crore
• Demolition of the old club houses and servant residence: ₹11.20 lakh

The Tara Devi–Shimla Ropeway Project in Shimla is estimated to cost ₹1,734.40 crore and span 13.79 kilometres. It is described as Asia’s longest and the world’s second-largest ropeway, after Bolivia’s approximately 32-kilometre system. The project has begun under a public-private partnership involving the Ropeway and Rapid Transport System Development Corporation and the Himachal Pradesh government. The New Development Bank will provide 80% of the funding; it has approved advance tenders, and initial processes are complete.

The route will run between Maa Tara Devi and Sanjauli, cover approximately 60 kilometres and connect 15 key stations. Listed stations are Maa Tara Devi, Court Complex (Chakkar), Tutikandi Parking Area, ISBT, Tunnel No. 103, Railway Station, Victory Tunnel, Old Bus Stand, Boarding Area Station near the Lift, Lakkar Bazaar, IGMC Hospital, Navbahar, Secretariat and Sanjauli. The system will carry around 2,000 people per hour from both directions, using 660 cabins with 8–10 passenger capacity; cabins will arrive every two to three minutes.