Traffic chaos grips Mussoorie, Nainital as tourist rush overwhelms hill towns

Mussoorie/Nainital: Two of Uttarakhand's most popular hill stations -- Mussoorie and Nainital -- are grappling with worsening traffic congestion, raising concerns among tourists, residents and authorities.In Mussoorie, traffic snarls have become routine on weekends, particularly along the Mussoorie-Dehradun road and in busy stretches such as Mall Road, Lal Tibba and Mullingar. The situation worsened after a bridge on the Mussoorie–Dehradun road was washed away in a cloudburst on Sept 16 last year. Though the road has been partially restored, a temporary bailey bridge currently handles traffic at the site. "The bailey bridge allows only one-way movement, leading to long jams on weekends. The PWD must build a permanent bridge to ease inconvenience," said Sanjay Aggarwal, president of the Mussoorie Hotels Association.PWD assistant engineer Pradeep Singh Shahi said, "A new bridge, estimated to cost Rs 12 crore, has been proposed and is awaiting approval. Once constructed, it will resolve the congestion at the bailey bridge site."Traffic is further aggravated by roadside parking along narrow lanes in Gandhi Chowk, Picture Palace, Landour, Mullingar and Lal Tibba, especially during peak tourist periods. Residents said the govt must prioritise creating adequate parking spaces to prevent bottlenecks.Meanwhile, Nainital faces similar challenges as its narrow roads struggle to accommodate rising tourist inflow. On peak weekends and holidays, vehicles crawl along approach routes from Bhowali, Kaladhungi and Haldwani, often stretching for kilometres. Key parking areas such as DSA Flats, Metropole, BD Pandey, Anda Market and Sukhatal fill up early, forcing drivers to circle in search of space.Residents said congestion now affects daily life year-round due to the growing number of private vehicles and limited parking. In some cases, delays have proved fatal, including a recent incident in which a businessman died while being transported by ambulance amid a traffic jam.Uttarakhand high court has directed authorities to clear long-parked vehicles from arterial roads and install CCTV cameras to improve traffic management. While police have introduced entry regulations and special traffic plans, relief has been limited.With little scope for road expansion, stakeholders are calling for long-term solutions, including improved parking infrastructure, stronger public transport and comprehensive traffic planning.Digvijay Singh Bisht, president of the Nainital Hotel Association, said, "Peak-season congestion around Nainital and Kainchi Dham frustrates visitors and hurts local businesses." Residents and traders have urged the govt to expedite projects such as the Metropole Parking facility and the Kainchi Temple bypass, widen key approach roads with minimal tree felling and develop permanent roadside parking bays.Sanjeev Bhagat, a businessman from Bimtal, suggested a mandatory pre-registration system for tourists visiting Nainital and Kainchi Temple. "This will allow authorities to monitor visitor numbers in real time, manage traffic and parking more efficiently and ensure emergency preparedness. If full registration isn't feasible immediately, a phased or area-specific rollout could work," he said.