Based on the principle of built, operate and transfer (BOT), the system will be entirely different from one suggested by Rail India Technical and Economic Services (Rites). Rites, which had done a survey in the town for new mass transport service (MTS), had proposed introduction of light rail-trams and electric trolley buses in the town, which would pass through the heart of Shimla, including its heritage zones.

Inquiries reveal that the State Transport Department, which had earlier turned down the recommendations on light rail-trams and trolley buses, now proposes to have a system which suites the town's culture and heritage. Himachal chapter of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art, Culture and Heritage) had also opposed the Rites proposal and suggested some important alternatives to arrest the City's growing traffic congestion and also save its heritage.

The state cabinet, which will be meeting early next month, is expected to discuss the alternative mass transport system and give a go-ahead to the department. ``There is absolutely no question of introducing rail-trams or any such system, which could interfere with the natural beauty of the hills here,'' a senior Transport Department official told Indian Express. Earlier, a committee headed by Yogesh Khanna, a senior bureaucrat and then secretary, Planning (which examined the Rites report) had also found the idea of rail-trams incompatible to the demands of the town.

The new proposal drawn up by the department envisages not only the introduction of eco-friendly alternate mass transport system but restrictions on the movement of passenger transport buses on the inner circular Cart Road.

The department would leave it to the cabinet to impose a ban on the movement of government vehicles on the Mall, as well as sealed roads. The traffic on the sealed and restricted roads has increased by almost 35 to 40 per cent in past four years. Private car owners have also managed to procure vehicle ``permits,'' who move freely on the sealed roads of the town.

The state government is of the firm view that present passenger transport system is causing a greater inconvenience to the public and has become hard to manage. The tourists vehicles and other chartered buses arriving here aggravate the problem further. The alternative mass transport system, which would mainly operate along the outer circular bypass road would also provide a connectivity to the main town up to present bus stand or other select points. The private agency, which would be entrusted with the work, would also be asked to take the responsibility of developing new parking lots and shopping complexes. It would make the project more viable and people-friendly. The government would keep an option to take over the operations after certain period of time or entrust the same to some other agency.

Contrary to this, the Rites had recommended three-circuit railway system passing through the Ridge and the Mall to provide linkage to Sanjauli, Chhotta Shimla and Boileu-Ganj. The cost of the project was estimated to be around Rs 70 crore. Even, the electric trolley system, which would have cost another Rs 45-crore to the state exchequer was found unsuitable for Shimla.

But more than the cost factors, it's introduction would have greatly jeopardised the natural beauty of the town, the administration felt.