Nilgiris bandh: Shops shut in protest against e-pass system ordered by Madras High Court

Nilgiris businesses protest tourist restrictions, causing district-wide bandh, impacting revenue and livelihoods, while tourism remains unaffected.

Most shops and businesses in the Nilgiris were closed on Wednesday in response to a call for a district-wide bandh by merchant associations. The businesses were protesting the Madras High Court’s order restricting tourists to the district.

The businesses, along with hotel and restaurant owners claimed that the e-pass system implemented last year led to loss of revenue amounting to anywhere between 15-40 percent for different sectors dependent on tourism. They said that they fear the new system, which came into force from Tuesday, which limit vehicle inflow into the district to 6,000 vehicles during the weekdays and 8,000 during the weekends would severely impact livelihoods of local residents.

According to police sources, around 90 percent of all businesses in the Nilgiris were closed with towns across the district, including Udhagamandalam, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Gudalur being less busy than usual due to the bandh. However, tourism to the district remained unaffected with popular tourist spots, including the Government Botanical Garden witnessing significant crowds.

Many tourists faced difficulties on Wednesday as most restaurants were closed, with many people thronging the Amma Unavagam near the Ooty bus stand to get their meals. One tourist from Karnataka, R. Sankith, said that he was unaware of the bandh in the Nilgiris to protest against the Madras High Court order.

“While I had no problems in getting an e-pass into the district, we are finding it difficult to get provisions or even a meal at a restaurant,” he said. Though most restaurants remained closed, hotels and lodges remained opened in the Nilgiris despite the bandh.