Fleeting Footprints: Vanishing Legacy of Shimla’s Pedestrian Plank

Shimla, Nov 22 Ritanjali Hastir

In the course of Shimla’s urban history, the year 2015 stands as a testament to the fleeting nature of initiatives taken by the ruling government, leaving behind a legacy of wasted public funds and a trail of broken promises. Late Raja Virbhadra Singh was the Chief Minister during this period, and the Congress party held the charge. At that time, the CPIM dominated Shimla Municipal Corporation, with Sanjay Chauhan serving as mayor and Tikender Pawar as deputy mayor.

One such initiative, aimed at preserving the city’s heritage and fostering a sense of order amidst the bustling streets, was the installation of a metallic plank adjacent to the iconic Baljees Restaurant, now replaced by Puma. The modest message written on the board was, “Keep to the left for walkers.” However, this seemingly straightforward reminder of pedestrian etiquette has become a symbol of government neglect and the transient nature of public initiatives.

Fast forward to the present, and the plank, which was intended to endure as a gentle reminder of Shimla’s historical pedestrian practices, is nowhere to be found. Its disappearance raises questions about the efficacy of public spending and the government’s ability to sustain initiatives that ostensibly aim to benefit the common man.

Former Mayor Sanjay Chauhan, who championed the cause during his tenure, expressed disappointment at the lack of continuity and preservation of the city’s heritage legacy. He stated, “It was our initiative as MC heads to preserve the heritage of the city, which, since time immemorial, has followed a particularly systematic way of walking. With the advent of prams, people were often seen forgetting their basic manners of walking on the left. The plank served as a gentle reminder, but sadly, no one seems to care about carrying forward or preserving this heritage legacy. It was sheer neglect on the part of the then government that the plank could not even last for a term.”

The disappearance of the metallic plank underscores a broader issue: the failure of successive governments to maintain and sustain initiatives that, at their core, are designed to enhance the quality of life for Shimla’s residents. The transient nature of such projects not only reflects a lack of vision but also leaves the common man grappling with the consequences of insufficient planning and foresight.

As Shimla continues to evolve, it is imperative that the custodians of the city’s governance prioritize initiatives that withstand the test of time, contributing to the preservation of its rich heritage and ensuring a better quality of life for its citizens. The vanished metallic plank serves as a stark reminder that the footprints of progress must be etched with permanence, not ephemeral gestures that fade away with the passage of time.

Added to this were the prominently written instructions on the Mall Road walls, ‘keep to your left’, ‘smoke free city’ etc., which at one time were diligently followed by the locals and often, politely advising tourists of the same signs to adhere to the rules. Long gone are days when you would see smartly dressed police officer/constables walking in right the middle of the road on Mall from Scandal to Rocksee, keeping people from crossing the line or a check on miscreants creating ruckus. So should we blame this also on the British legacy that was left behind for us menials to be followed or for the sanctity of our law and order, Shimla MC should have stepped up to take charge.

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