COIMBATORE: Tourist spots in The Nilgiris wore a deserted look on Wednesday as shops and hotels down shutters, and autos, taxis, and tourist vehicles were kept off the road in protest against the e-pass system, restricting the entry of tourist vehicles into the hills.
A day after the court order to cap the number of vehicles entering Ooty took effect, the traders’ body resorted to a strike in the district. Vehicles were thoroughly checked for e-passes at more than 12 check posts established at entry points.
Barring shops selling essentials like pharmaceuticals, milk and petrol stations, the shutdown of commercial establishments, hotels, and bakeries was nearly total in Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Gudalur, Pandalur, and Kundah taluks.
Buses ran as usual with skeletal passenger patronage. Tourist spots like the Government Botanical Garden, SIMS Park, Boat House, Doddabetta Peak and other spots wore an unusually empty look.
Tourists, mainly from neighbouring states like Kerala and Karnataka, who came unaware of the strike, had a tough time without food and water as hotels and eateries remained closed. Many tourists were pushed to make the hard choice to cancel their trips.
A tourist couple, Seevalamuthu and Poongothai from Tirunelveli, said they came to Ooty along with relatives with a plan to stay for a week. “But our trip has to be cut short abruptly as there is not even a hotel open in the hills. It was extremely difficult to manage,” they said.
Wahid, another tourist from Malappuram in Kerala, said he was disappointed unable to buy homemade chocolates and missed out on the shopping experience due to the strike. For many, the Amma canteen turned out to be a saving grace.
Tourists could be seen queuing up to savour the low-cost food served at the state government-sponsored canteens located in Ooty's central bus stand and other areas. Some roadside push cart eateries also witnessed heavy crowds.
The Nilgiris District Traders Association president, K Mohammed Farooq, termed the strike to be a success with the participation of all traders' associations and the tourism sector.
“If the district administration fails to fulfill our demand to scrap the e-pass system within ten days, protests will continue during the upcoming ‘Kodai Vizha’,” he said.
Further, Farooq said people going to Kerala from Karnataka through the Nilgiris district shouldn’t be considered as tourists and compelled to furnish an e-pass for their movement.