Traffic chaos on long weekend raises concerns over State’s preparedness for Char Dham Yatra & tourist season
PURNIMA BISHT | Dehradun
The recent long weekend turned into a nightmare for tourists and locals alike as traffic congestion paralysed various parts of Uttarakhand, particularly in Rishikesh, Mussoorie and Dehradun. What was expected to be a relaxing break for thousands of visitors quickly spiralled into frustration and chaos, with several travellers stuck for hours, some even missing their flights due to the sheer magnitude of the traffic snarls. The worst-hit was Rishikesh, where many tourists were unable to reach their pre-booked hotels and camps despite arriving on time.
The Dehradun senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh personally visited various locations to assess the situation. According to him, nearly 80,000 tourist vehicles entered the Rishikesh area over the span of just two days, with only about 20,000 making their way back. Mussoorie too witnessed an influx of around 15,000 vehicles during the weekend, of which only 8,000 returned. With hotels fully booked and limited parking options, many tourists kept driving around in search of accommodation, worsening the jam.
In an attempt to ease the pressure on Monday, authorities temporarily banned the entry of heavy vehicles in these high-traffic areas. With the first long weekend of summer proving so unmanageable, many activists and concerned citizens are questioning whether the State is equipped to handle the upcoming peak tourist and pilgrimage season. Multiple long weekends lie ahead, followed by school summer vacations, which traditionally bring a surge in visitors to Mussoorie, Rishikesh and eventually, the Char Dham circuit. The influx is only expected to grow with the commencement of the Kanwad Yatra, which will put further strain on infrastructure, traffic management and law enforcement, especially in Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Many opined that the influx leading to congestion is not often limited to tourist inconvenience alone, it deeply affects daily life for residents as well. Locals who rely on commuting between cities like Dehradun and Rishikesh for work or education are also left stranded in traffic for hours. Patients travelling to AIIMS Rishikesh from other parts of the country also face delays, raising concerns about access to timely medical care. Many officials believe that the deeper issue lies in the State’s long-standing infrastructure challenges. Many roads in and around tourist hubs are narrow and ill-equipped to handle such volumes of traffic. Even with police attempting to take every possible measure, they often hit a wall due to these limitations.
Dehradun based social activist Anoop Nautiyal also raised concerns shared by many citizens. “We are facing an unprecedented level of traffic congestion and it is only going to get worse this year. With more pilgrims and tourists expected than last year and temperatures expected to be even higher, this could be a real crisis,” he said. He added, “Authorities claim to plan everything thoroughly each year but they consistently fail to address the most crucial issues. The government does not appear to be taking the problem as seriously as it should. While police are doing work with limited manpower, there is clearly a lack of planning. The peak tourist season lasts only about 90 days, why can’t the government train and deploy unemployed youth to assist with traffic and crowd management during this time? It is not an impossible task if there is genuine intent.” As Uttarakhand stands on the brink of its busiest season, the chaos of this past weekend serves as a warning.
Observers opine that if immediate and effective action is not taken, the State may find itself overwhelmed by the very tourism it seeks to promote.
