Forest Department enforces strict e-pass requirement at Aliyar checkpost for Valparai-bound vehicles. Only 750 vehicles allowed on weekends. Tourists without prior online booking turned away, causing disappointment among travelers who journeyed long distances to reach the hill station.
Coimbatore: The Forest Department has intensified enforcement of the mandatory e-pass system for vehicles traveling to Valparai, turning away tourists who arrived without prior online registration at the Aliyar checkpost on Saturday.
With weekend restrictions limiting entry to only 750 vehicles on Saturdays and Sundays, the checkpost witnessed heavy congestion as numerous tourist vehicles queued up for entry. Forest officials strictly implemented the e-pass requirement, denying permission to vehicles that had not secured online passes beforehand.
The strict enforcement left many tourists disappointed, particularly those who had traveled considerable distances to visit the popular hill station. Several families were forced to return without being able to proceed to Valparai, having been unaware of the mandatory e-pass system or unable to secure passes in advance.
Forest Department officials stated that they are implementing a court order regarding the restriction of vehicle movement to Valparai. The measure aims to regulate tourist traffic and protect the ecologically sensitive region from overcrowding and environmental degradation.
The department has urged tourists planning to visit Valparai during weekends to register for e-passes well in advance through the official online portal. Officials emphasized that physical arrival at the checkpost without a valid e-pass will result in denial of entry, regardless of the distance traveled.
The 750-vehicle limit on weekends is part of ongoing efforts to balance tourism with conservation in the biodiversity-rich Valparai region, which falls within protected forest areas. Authorities have requested tourists to check official websites and secure necessary permissions before planning their trips to avoid inconvenience.
With weekend restrictions limiting entry to only 750 vehicles on Saturdays and Sundays, the checkpost witnessed heavy congestion as numerous tourist vehicles queued up for entry. Forest officials strictly implemented the e-pass requirement, denying permission to vehicles that had not secured online passes beforehand.
The strict enforcement left many tourists disappointed, particularly those who had traveled considerable distances to visit the popular hill station. Several families were forced to return without being able to proceed to Valparai, having been unaware of the mandatory e-pass system or unable to secure passes in advance.
Forest Department officials stated that they are implementing a court order regarding the restriction of vehicle movement to Valparai. The measure aims to regulate tourist traffic and protect the ecologically sensitive region from overcrowding and environmental degradation.
The department has urged tourists planning to visit Valparai during weekends to register for e-passes well in advance through the official online portal. Officials emphasized that physical arrival at the checkpost without a valid e-pass will result in denial of entry, regardless of the distance traveled.
The 750-vehicle limit on weekends is part of ongoing efforts to balance tourism with conservation in the biodiversity-rich Valparai region, which falls within protected forest areas. Authorities have requested tourists to check official websites and secure necessary permissions before planning their trips to avoid inconvenience.