Tourists visiting hilly areas like Ooty and Kodaikanal which are major tourist destinations of Tamil Nadu, Tourists have also been ordered to get e-pass, Kodaikanal has also caused severe hardship to the people and traders.
April May every year in India, And June is summer vacation. On this day, As it is a holiday for school and college students, Parents pick up their children, Trips to hilly areas have become commonplace. Most people’s first choice during these holidays is the hilly areas like Ooty or Kodaikanal.
Due to this during summer vacations, Tourist spots in Ooty and Kodaikanal are usually crowded. Although crowds of people visit these tourist sites throughout the year, During the summer season, which is called the summer season, the traders get more income from the tourists who come there.
Also due to the increase in the number of tourists in Ooty and Kodaikanal during this season than other days, Traffic is also affected. Although the tourists and local people face severe hardship due to this, The traders and people there do not take it seriously considering their livelihood.
Meanwhile, due to the increase in the number of tourists during the season, Due to traffic congestion, To overcome this, tourists going to Kodaikanal and Ooty have been ordered to take e-pass. This procedure has been followed since yesterday (May 7)., Ever since the announcement of the e-pass procedure, there has been a lot of discontent among the people of Ooty and Kodaikanal.
The manager of Spencer’s Super Market in Kodaikanal said this, AKR We continued to ask Raja, the manager of Wood House.
What is the e-pass procedure for??
During season in Kodaikanal, Due to increase in tourist arrivals, Traffic is affected. Even getting an ambulance for an emergency is difficult. It is because of this that e-pass has been introduced. But this e-pass procedure, It has caused hardship to people and traders in Kodaikanal.
How e-pass procedure is provided?
E-Pass was introduced during the Corona period. Then to all the tourists, They were allowed to enter Kodaikanal only after verification of documents including Aadhaar card. But not so now. Anyone can apply and purchase this e-pass. If 5 people are coming in a vehicle, it is enough to buy an e-pass in the name of one of them. Buying an e-pass is now less difficult than it was during the Corona period.
Is this e-pass procedure affected??
This e-pass procedure is affected. A place where people used to come and go because they said that they can now enter only if they buy an e-pass, Tourists face some mental difficulties. Due to this many people avoid coming to Kodaikanal. Similarly, it can be said that the Vibaparis here have lost their livelihood.
Industrial as in Ooty in general, There are no industries like tea picking in Kodaikanal. The people here depend on the tourists who come here, Many people are earning their income as traders. Although tourists come here every year, April in the year, May and June are the 3 months when the number of tourists is high.
Traders will get income in these 3 months which is not available even if they work throughout the year. This will give people and victims a chance to improve their livelihood during this season. But now with the implementation of e-pass, the number of tourists has reduced drastically. This has affected the livelihood of traders.
Usually during this season, Go one km to the most crowded places including Kodaikanal Lake, It takes at least 3 to 4 hours. To that extent, the number of tourists will be high. But now as the number of tourists has decreased, Kodaikanal is now in a state of forgetting that it is the season.
Will this e-pass procedure be valid on all days?? Do local people also have this practice?
This e-pass is only available during the season. This procedure will last till June 30 this year. Only Ooty and Kodaikanal people will not have this e-pass procedure. They say e-pass is not required if you are traveling in vehicles with Kodaikanal registration number. But can we say that everyone in Kodaikanal uses a vehicle with Kodaikanal registration number?
Even when I went to Dindigul two days ago, they asked me for e-pass when I went back to Kodaikanal after leaving in my vehicle. I live in Kodaikanal. I work here. But I came after buying e-pass. Although livelihoods have been affected by the e-pass procedure, the people of Kodaikanal who are returning from out of town are also facing difficulties.
All in all, it is true that due to this e-pass procedure, the livelihood of the people has been affected as there is no regular tourist crowd and no business in Kodaikanal. He said that even if he appeals to the court against this practice and obtains a ban, this year’s season will be over by then.
