Chennai, April 19 (IANS) The Nilgiris district, a famous hill destination in Tamil Nadu, is witnessing a sharp surge in tourist arrivals from across the state and neighbouring regions, leading to increasing traffic congestion in key areas such as Ooty.

Tourists from various districts and other states have been flocking to the Nilgiris to explore its scenic locations, with many opting to travel in private vehicles for convenience. This has resulted in long queues of vehicles along the winding hill roads, particularly during peak hours, causing delays and bottlenecks.

The situation is likely to intensify in the coming days as Ooty prepares to host its annual summer festival events. Popular attractions such as flower shows, vegetable exhibitions, fruit displays and fragrance expos are scheduled to take place across multiple venues in and around the hill station.

These seasonal events traditionally draw large crowds, further boosting tourist footfall. Adding to the influx, summer vacations have been declared for schools across Tamil Nadu, prompting families to plan trips to hill stations like Ooty and Kodaikanal.

As a result, the volume of visitors has increased significantly over the past few days, putting additional pressure on local infrastructure and transport systems.

Authorities have noted that the heavy reliance on private vehicles has been a major contributor to congestion in the hill areas. In response, officials have urged tourists to make greater use of special tourist buses and locally operated transport services, which have been arranged to ease movement within the region.

On Sunday, traffic movement slowed considerably in Ooty town, with long lines of vehicles reported at key junctions, including Charing Cross and ATC Road. Local traffic police have been deployed to regulate vehicle flow and prevent gridlocks, but officials warn that congestion could worsen if the current trend continues.

Tourism officials have reiterated their appeal to visitors to plan their travel responsibly, avoid peak hours where possible, and utilise public or shared transport options.

With the summer festival season just beginning, managing the growing tourist influx remains a key challenge for the district administration.

–IANS

aal/dpb