PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
To manage the expected increase in tourist footfall in Mussoorie during the summer season and maintain law and order, the Dehradun district administration will enforce Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) from April 19. Section 163 empowers district magistrates to issue preventive orders in public interest for maintaining peace, regulating movement and ensuring public safety.
This provision is being invoked to improve traffic management, parking systems and visitor convenience in the hill town, the Dehradun district magistrate Savin Bansal said. He has instructed all departments to implement the orders in full coordination and without delays.
The administration has focussed on key infrastructure support, including satellite parking at Hathipaon, Kingcraig and Kuthal Gate, along with shuttle services and golf carts to facilitate tourist movement on Mall Road. He informed that the additional district magistrate has issued formal instructions to departments such as the Public Works Department, Transport, Mussoorie municipality, Police and Tourism to ensure compliance. Orders include deployment of shuttle services, passenger tracking, booth and counter setup at parking areas and continuous monitoring of vehicle and passenger movements.
He informed that the traffic police will intercept vehicles and guide them to designated parking spaces. In case Gajji Bend parking reaches full capacity, vehicles will be redirected to Old Rajpur Road via Kuthal Gate. Infrastructure at parking sites will include lighting, drinking water, mobile toilets, and public address systems. The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun will oversee parking operations through in-house teams or outsourced agencies, charging nominal fees.
The regional transport officer will supervise the shuttle system from Kuthal Gate while police will ensure tourist safety and smooth traffic regulation. Water supply will be managed by Jal Sansthan and Peyjal Nigam. Bansal has appealed to all departments to act responsibly and ensure that enforcement of Section 163 does not require legal force, aiming instead for cooperative and effective governance during the peak tourism period.
