PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Locals have expressed apprehension over the rising tourist footfall on the Dehradun–Mussoorie route, saying it is disrupting their daily lives and robbing them of peace. They noted that this season has seen an unusually high influx of tourists for Mussoorie, causing traffic jams on stretches that lead to the hill station. “Aside from the traffic jams we face, the rush is stopping us from visiting Mussoorie ourselves,” said one of the locals, adding that they are being forced to remain stuck up in Doon and suffer the summer heat.
This aside, the behaviour of some tourists towards locals has also raised concerns.
Some residents have urged the authorities to formulate a comprehensive tourism policy for the state that addresses traffic management and ensures that local life is not affected.
Speaking anonymously, a concerned local said that he had visited Mussoorie recently and found the situation there extremely disappointing. “The traffic congestion was so severe that visitors and locals alike spent hours stuck up on the roads. Parking was nearly impossible, and overcrowding made it difficult to enjoy the hill station. What was more concerning was the unruly behaviour of some tourists, who show scant regard for traffic rules and cleanliness,” he said and added that the government should improve traffic management, control excessive vehicle entry during peak periods, and promote responsible tourism.
Echoing the same view, another local Saloni Verma said that she plans to visit Mussoorie with her children every year to escape the heat. “But every time the plan gets cancelled due to the surge in traffic. The same has happened this year too. We started off in our car, but then returned midway, seeing the traffic logjam,” she said.
Suraj Uniyal, a Doonite, said that things were getting worse. “It has been more than six years since I visited Mussoorie. For us, Mussoorie is no longer a place to visit; it has become a spot only for tourists. Traffic jams are worsening. Besides, the loud music the tourists play in their cars and their misbehaviour with locals are adding to our concerns,” he added.
