Taking serious cognisance of traffic congestion in Nainital during the tourist season, the Uttarakhand high court has directed shifting of the lake Bridge toll-tax to outside the town, closure of 50 per cent rooms in hotels without parking facility and identification of vehicles of guest houses and hotels operated without authorisation. The high court has also directed that new taxi permits should not be issued for Nainital.
A petition filed by professor Ajay Rawat was taken up before the the division bench of justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and UC Dhyani. In observance of earlier court orders, the Naintal district magistrate, senior superintendent of police, regional transport officer and other officials concerned were also present in the court. While hearing on the petition, the court expressed concern at the entry of vehicles much beyond the capacity of the town during the tourist season. The court directed that a committee be formed for the control of this crowd.
Additionally, the lake Bridge chungi should be shifted to outside the town. The court observed that majority of the hotels in Nainital lack parking facility despite which the hotel owners host tourists beyond their capacity. To control this crowd, hotels without parking facility should not open more than 50 per cent of their total rooms. The court also directed that new taxi permits for Nainital should not be issued. If such permits are issued, the holders should not be allowed entry in Nainital town. The court also sought information about action being taken to stop unauthorised operation of horse rides from Barapatthar. On being asked by the court, the SSP informed that there is facility for parking maximum 1,500 vehicles in Nainital town. However, during the peak season about 8,000 vehicles arrived here from Haldwani Road apart from which vehicles also arrived here from Kaladhungi Road. Additionally, after Eid on June 28, thousands of bikers had also reached Nainital.
Taking cognisance of this information, the court remarked that for the past 15 days, the residents of Nainital had been living the life of prisoners and emergency services were also being impacted.