Explained: E-Pass System In Nilgiris And Kodaikanal; And Why People Are Protesting

The Madras High Court has capped the number of tourist vehicles allowed into Kodaikanal and the Nilgiris between April and June to curb environmental damage and ease local hardships. Thus, starting April 1, 2025, until June, daily e-pass limits are in place—6,000 vehicles on weekdays and 8,000 on weekends for the Nilgiris; and 4,000 on weekdays and 6,000 on weekends for Kodaikanal. The cap excludes public transport users, local residents, and essential service vehicles. Tourists using electric vehicles will be prioritised for e-passes.

Introducing An E-Pass In Ooty and Kodaikanal

The e-pass system was first implemented by the Tamil Nadu government in May 2024. The Madras High Court took decisive action in response to increasing concerns over traffic congestion in Tamil Nadu's popular hill stations, Ooty and Kodaikanal. A status report revealed that over 20,000 vehicles entered Nilgiris daily, including 11,500 cars and 6,500 two-wheelers during peak season. In light of this, the court directed the District Collectors to create an online system for issuing e-passes. These passes will be required for entry, ensuring controlled access and relieving traffic on congested roadways.

The e-pass system was implemented with the primary objective of collecting essential data on the total number of vehicles entering a specific area, the precise count of passengers within these vehicles, and the duration of their visit to the region. The Madras High Court emphasised that this system would provide invaluable support to researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) and the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore (IIM-B) in assessing the carrying capacity of the Ghat roads leading to these hill stations. By utilising this data, informed decisions can be made to improve road infrastructure and other amenities, ultimately ensuring the long-term sustainability of tourism in these areas.

However, this year, it was again the series of vehicles travelling into Kodaikanal and Nilgiris that has prompted the Madras High Court to curb the vehicles in order to obviate any serious harm to the ecology and prevent hardships for the locals.

How To Obtain An E-Pass

To apply for an e-pass to Kodaikanal or the Nilgiris, visit https://epass.tnega.org. Indian visitors must log in with a mobile number, while foreign tourists use an email address, followed by OTP verification. Select your destination, enter travel and vehicle details, upload proof of stay, and submit. E-passes are issued automatically on a first-come-first-served basis until daily limits are reached.

Disruptions Over Implementation

Tourists visiting Ooty faced disruptions as traders and local business owners observed a bandh on Wednesday to protest the recently introduced e-pass system. The shutdown, called by various trade associations, was in response to what they claim is an unfair restriction on tourist movement and a potential threat to local livelihoods.

Most shops, restaurants, and commercial establishments remained closed, while protestors staged demonstrations demanding the withdrawal of the e-pass rule, which limits the number of vehicles entering the Nilgiris. The hartal caused inconvenience to tourists, many of whom were unaware of the protest and found limited services available during their visit.

(With inputs from various sources.)