In order to tackle the overcrowding and managing traffic after footfall doubled between 2022 and 2024, authorities are now planning to launch a pre-registration system for tourists visiting Mussoorie during peak travel seasons.
Mussoorie May Get A Pre-registration System
It is noteworthy here that Tourists who fail to register may be denied entry at key checkpoints under the proposed system.
It appears that almost 21 lakh visitors had reached the hill town in 2024.
This number is far up from over 11 lakh in 2022, according to the officials.
The first step would be to estimate the number of tourists and vehicles arriving during peak periods —summer and winter holidays and long weekends — by installing cameras at three entry points: Kimadi, Kempty Fall and Kuthal gate, said Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, Secretary (tourism).
Further adding, “The problem of overcrowding and long traffic jams is only during the peak season, so there’s no point having a year-round pre-registration system.
Our teams are working on introducing the
concept during those times.”
How Does This Helps?
During the tourist weekends, long traffic jams of several hours have become a frequent problem, especially from Gandhi Chowk to Mall Road.
In a different development, a Delhi tourist died after being stuck in congestion and failing to reach hospital care during June this year.
They have proposed a registration form that would collect details regarding the number of tourists, contact and vehicle numbers, tour duration and accommodation.
The tourism department officials met stakeholders on Friday and discussed key
aspects of the plan Garbyal noted.
Adding, “Through this exercise, we intend to study, assess the situation and then take effective steps like pre-registration or having one-way
roads for entry and exit.”
They will be providing this online registration facility which will be OTP-based.
This OTP will be sent to Indian tourists on their phones and foreigners will receive this OTP on their emails.
After completion of the registration, it will generate a QR code.
They will screen the vehicles which are entering Mussoorie through Automated Number Plate Recognition systems.
So there are chances that the tourists without a valid QR code may be turned away at the entry points.
Besides this, the tourism department has identified three entry points and they are planning to install Automated Number Plate Recognition
systems there.
The generated QR codes will be verified by staff before they will allow the entry.
In addition to this officials have halted the construction on Mall Road following a court order, citing concerns that ongoing work may worsen traffic congestion.
Earlier, president of Mussoorie Hotel Association, Sandeep Sahni and others present at the meeting have raised concerns over these recurring problems.
