The picturesque hill station of Ooty, a favorite tourist destination in Tamil Nadu, has been thrown into chaos due to a widespread shutdown by auto-rickshaws, tourist taxis, and commercial establishments protesting against the newly introduced e-pass system. The strike, which began at 6 AM on Wednesday, has left visitors stranded and struggling for basic necessities such as food, transportation, and accommodation. The protest is expected to last for 24 hours, concluding at 6 AM on Thursday (April 3), but its impact has already been severe. The movement has extended beyond Ooty to other parts of the Nilgiris district, including Kotagiri, Gudalur, and Pandalur, where most businesses and tourist services have remained closed.
The core of the protest lies in the grievances of local shop owners, hoteliers, and transport operators, who argue that the e-pass system is a direct threat to their livelihoods. They claim that the restrictions on vehicle entry and the requirement to obtain prior permission to visit Ooty will discourage tourists from coming, thereby dealing a significant blow to the region’s economy, which heavily depends on tourism. The sudden decline in visitors, coupled with stringent travel regulations, has already begun affecting businesses, leading many to join the strike in an effort to pressurize the government into withdrawing the policy.
The newly implemented e-pass system, which came into effect on April 1, mandates that travelers using private vehicles must apply for an e-pass in advance through a government portal before entering the Nilgiris district. In addition to this, the government has placed a cap on vehicle entry—allowing only 6,000 vehicles on weekdays and 8,000 on weekends. However, exemptions apply to emergency and medical vehicles, government buses, goods transport, and vehicles registered within the Nilgiris district. The decision to introduce these restrictions follows a Madras High Court order aimed at regulating vehicular movement in Ooty and Kodaikanal to ease congestion and preserve the ecological balance of these fragile hill stations.
The strike has created enormous difficulties for tourists, who have found themselves stuck without transport and struggling to find food and accommodation. The limited number of hotels and eateries that remained open took advantage of the situation, charging exorbitant rates. According to reports by PTI, long queues were seen outside state-run Amma Canteens, where tourists and locals scrambled for affordable meals. A tourist from Kerala recounted how he had booked a hotel room for Rs 5,000 per night until Tuesday, but after the strike began, the same hotel raised its rate to an astronomical Rs 15,000 per night, leaving him in a state of shock. Several other tourists expressed their frustration over the lack of available services, with many having to rely on roadside vendors for food.
Protest leader Farooq has strongly opposed the e-pass system, claiming that it is already reducing tourist footfall and, if not withdrawn, will have disastrous long-term consequences for the local economy. He stated that the region thrives on tourism and that implementing restrictive measures without consulting stakeholders will only lead to financial hardship for thousands of people dependent on this industry. Apart from demanding the complete revocation of the e-pass system, the protesters have listed ten key demands, including the relaxation of vehicle restrictions from April 1, resolving ongoing issues related to the tea industry, and granting immediate approvals for pending building permit applications.
Despite mounting pressure from local businesses and transport unions, the government has defended its decision, citing environmental and traffic concerns. The Madras High Court had earlier ordered the implementation of the e-pass system as a measure to regulate the increasing influx of vehicles, particularly during the peak tourist season. The objective was to ensure smoother traffic management and to prevent ecological degradation caused by excessive tourism. On March 28, the Supreme Court refused to intervene in the matter, with a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh upholding the High Court’s order. The judges remarked that the restrictions were “perfectly correct” and emphasized that the move was necessary to safeguard the region’s natural beauty and infrastructure.
While authorities argue that the e-pass system is a necessary step towards sustainable tourism, local businesses, and transport operators see it as an existential threat. The ongoing protest highlights the growing tensions between environmental regulation and economic sustainability. Many locals believe that instead of imposing restrictive measures, the government should focus on improving infrastructure, developing alternative transport solutions, and ensuring better crowd management techniques without harming the tourism-dependent economy.
As the shutdown continues, Ooty remains in turmoil, with stranded tourists bearing the brunt of the conflict. The long-term impact of the e-pass system and the protests remains uncertain, but it is clear that unless a resolution is reached, the standoff could have lasting repercussions on the region’s tourism industry and the livelihoods of thousands who depend on it.
