Traffic diversions in Ooty as more tourists flock to the hills

NILGIRIS: Expecting a rise in the number of tourist vehicles, the Nilgiris district police have announced traffic diversion on major roads for the whole of May in a bid to decongest traffic. The changes came into effect on Wednesday, May 1 and will remain in effect until the end of the month.

All heavy vehicles are not allowed in Ooty city between 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM. While vehicles going to Ooty from Mettupalayam will be allowed only via Coonoor Road, vehicles coming from Ooty and Coonoor will have to go via Kotagiri.

Similarly, tourist vehicles going to Ooty from Gudalur, except Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation buses, can be parked at HPF and Golf Club Road. Vehicles going to Ooty Boat House and Karnataka Park from Gudalur can reach the tri-junction via Kandhal by turning right at Fingerpost.

Nilgiris Superintendent of Police P Sundaravadivel, who convened a meeting with the social activists, assured to take steps to control vehicular movement by deploying police personnel from outside the districts along with local police.

The SP requested the traders not to bring their cars to the market and instead asked them to come on their two-wheelers as the parking space in the market can be used for parking tourist vehicles.

“This will help traders improve their business and also reduce traffic congestion within the city limits. The same traffic system was also in place on April 27 and 28, the SP said.”

“We are expecting more crowds this summer due to the Ooty flower festival starting from May 10. That is why the traffic diversion was planned well in advance of the event. Vehicle owners should strictly follow the instructions and cooperate to decongest traffic across the Nilgiris,” SP Sundaravadivel added.

Despite the sweltering sun, the number of tourists at the Government Botanical Garden (GBG) in Ooty continues to increase. While 4.72 lakh people visited the garden in March and April 2023, this year the number has increased to over 5.10 lakh. Established in 1847, the GBG is home to 160 species of 150-year-old trees, 500 species of flowers and a lawn spread over 54 hectares. Another major attraction is the fossil tree trunk, believed to be 20 million years old, and two of the country’s rare Ginkgo Biloba trees.

“We struggle to control crowds in the summer and long weekends only make the situation worse. A few months ago, Prime Minister MK Stalin announced Rs 3 crore for development work in the park. The tender will be held in June,” said a senior official of the horticulture department.

“Nilgiris Collector M Aruna is keen to improve the facilities at the GBG. The money would improve drainage facilities and even build footpaths so that tourists can easily walk around the park. Drinking water and toilet facilities would also be improved to meet the needs of the increasing number of tourists. A new orchidarium will be developed and the two greenhouses will be renovated,” the official said.

“While 1.39 lakh people visited the garden in March and 3.33 lakh in April 2023, the number has increased to 1.73 lakh in March and 3.37 lakh till April 28. We have also collected Rs 88.66 lakh and Rs 1.66 crore in March and April this year. year, compared to Rs 72.8 lakh Rs 1.60 crore in March and April 2023 respectively,” he added.