This Summer, Madras High Court Rolled Out E-Passes To Enter Nilgiris And Kodaikanal

1. Mandatory E-Passes For Entry

[{"selector":"#anim-cd5980ae-cce7-4527-91bb-3f4346a8da40","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c834344-37c1-426c-a4fd-1755afb55655","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 204.49168%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash All vehicles entering Nilgiris and Kodaikanal between May 7 and June 30 must acquire electronic passes, as mandated by the Madras High Court.

2. Exemption For Residents

[{"selector":"#anim-7ed7358f-2541-462c-a943-72408fed1dbb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e59340dc-18e4-4126-95b2-44a939309364","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.14980%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash Residents are exempt from obtaining e-passes, as emphasised by the Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, as per The Hindu reports.

3. Comprehensive Data Collection

[{"selector":"#anim-3a23f3fe-70fc-4d45-8654-00af1186e293","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eeddbb59-b8b6-4cba-8748-082f79fda5c6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.30822%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash Collectors are directed to gather extensive information, including vehicle category, passenger count, and travel duration, incorporating suggestions from legal experts to enhance the e-pass issuance process.

4. Integration Of Payment Gateway

[{"selector":"#anim-fcaa6432-19de-4e6a-9fd8-cc9c74428ca5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e453e1d-c486-4f08-a14b-89cd65cd1291","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.14980%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash The High Court suggests integrating a payment gateway into the e-pass system to enable online toll fee payments, reducing congestion at checkpoints, fuel consumption, and carbon emissions.

5. Utilisation Of Data

[{"selector":"#anim-279d1b69-b50e-4d72-ba37-f3c14adb609b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-584f0330-af3b-4422-b76b-ef82a96f3239","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.30822%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash The data collected through e-passes will aid in scientific studies led by esteemed professors to determine the carrying capacity of ghat roads, benefiting from the insights provided by Advocate-General P.S. Raman.

6. Inspiration From COVID-19 Measures

[{"selector":"#anim-b3215393-574f-4bdb-8fae-015548d842a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f056ac5-a906-403e-ba08-2d5aa597e951","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.14980%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash According to The Hindu, the concept of e-passes draws inspiration from pandemic-related restrictions, aiming to gather accurate tourist data without imposing stringent entry limitations.

7. Traffic Concerns

[{"selector":"#anim-fd78bc94-4d6f-4f6b-b799-cc86d311a0b9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6ea07a1-eec2-4519-868e-e60e6a8c1f97","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 202.36405%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash The High Court reportedly expressed alarm over the heavy influx of vehicles into Nilgiris, raising concerns about the impact on local wildlife and infrastructure.

8. Environmental And Infrastructural Challenges

[{"selector":"#anim-144f3bd9-5b62-4313-a0c1-5c044ddff7b0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9574cada-3cd3-4463-935d-02b64d17aa0a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 140.30822%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash Justice Chakravarthy highlighted the dual challenge of drought and overcrowding in Nilgiris, questioning the sustainability of water resources and infrastructure in accommodating large tourist numbers.

[{"selector":"#anim-8fb88bcb-07f1-45b1-92ab-7c327dc6ccce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8eabd75f-09b5-4b49-98ef-d1c51d460fe8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 531.80809%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Credits: Unsplash Implementing e-passes is a pivotal step towards sustainable tourism management.