Hill Stations Are Choking. Can Mussoorie's New Tourist Check-In System Fix That?

India's love affair with the hills has never been stronger. Every summer, a wave of tourists heads to places like Mussoorie, Shimla, Manali, Nainital and Ooty in search of cool air and quiet views. But the scenes that now greet them are often the opposite - bumper-to-bumper traffic, overbooked hotels, and crumbling infrastructure under pressure. Mussoorie, one of Uttarakhand's most popular hill stations, is trying something new. Tourists visiting during peak periods - summer holidays, winter breaks and long weekends - may soon have to pre-register their travel plans online before entering the town. A QR code will then be scanned at checkpoints like Kimadi, Kempty Falls and Kuthal Gate.

The move comes after the town saw a surge in footfall from 11 lakh visitors in 2022 to over 21 lakh in 2024, as reported by ET. Authorities have also paused construction work on Mall Road following complaints that it was worsening congestion, as per the report.

Also Read: Norway To Introduce New Tourist Tax In 2026 To Curb Overtourism: All You Need To Know

What Travellers Will Need To Do

The proposed system requires tourists to register their details online before visiting Mussoorie. Here's how it is expected to work:

1. Fill out an online form with your name, contact number, vehicle registration number, accommodation details, and travel dates.
2. Domestic travellers will receive a one-time password (OTP) on their mobile number; international travellers will get theirs via email.
3. After verification, you will receive a QR code, which must be presented at checkposts before entry.
4. At checkpoints like Kimadi, Kempty Falls, and Kuthal Gate, the QR code will be scanned, and ANPR (Automated Number Plate Recognition) cameras will verify vehicle details.

The system is expected to be enforced only during high-traffic periods, not year-round.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

A Fix Or A Filter?

The new check-in process may sound restrictive, but officials say the goal is not to limit tourism. "We are not discouraging tourism," Uttarakhand Tourism Secretary Dhiraj Singh Garbyal told Times of India, adding that the initiative is meant to streamline crowd flow and avoid bottlenecks. The administration is also considering one-way routes and improved parking management during rush periods.

Local Support For Tourist Caps

The Mussoorie Hotel Association has extended support to the proposal, saying it could help the hill station manage the growing influx, as per reports. Stakeholders say that fewer vehicles on the road could result in smoother operations for both tourists and businesses during peak seasons.

Are Hill Towns Becoming Victims Of Their Own Popularity?

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Mussoorie is not alone. Nearby Landour has already restricted vehicle movement, and traffic congestion in the Doon Valley has become routine during holiday weekends, as per recent reports by the Times of India. Concerns are also rising around waste management, water availability, and over-construction in other hill towns like Shimla and Manali.

As Indian cities get hotter and travellers seek cooler getaways, the pressure on these mountain towns is expected to rise even further. For many urban families, hill vacations are no longer a luxury - they are a seasonal escape.

Also Read: Another Move To Curb Overtourism In Italy: Ban On Check-In Keyboxes In Florence

A Sign Of Things To Come?

Mussoorie's system could become a model for other destinations dealing with overtourism. Structured access, registration-based entry and vehicle checks may soon be normal in places that were once considered easy escapes.

Nainital Might Be Next

After Mussoorie, Nainital may also introduce a pre-registration system for tourists, as per a report by IANS. The Uttarakhand government is said to be evaluating a similar model to manage peak-season traffic, overcrowding and growing pressure on local infrastructure.

But while Mussoorie is largely a tourist town, Nainital also functions as an administrative centre, home to government offices, courts and daily commuters. That dual role makes crowd-control efforts trickier. Officials and hotel associations have pointed out that any registration system in Nainital would need to be more flexible, especially for residents and those travelling for work. According to IANS, discussions are ongoing to find a version that works without disrupting local life.

Tamil Nadu Already Has An E-Pass System For Ooty And Kodaikanal

Mussoorie is not the only hill station trying to manage overtourism. In Tamil Nadu, travellers heading to Ooty and Kodaikanal now need to apply for an e-pass before their visit. The Madras High Court has set daily limits: 6,000 vehicles on weekdays and 8,000 on weekends in the Nilgiris district, with similar caps for Kodaikanal. The idea is to keep traffic and environmental impact in check during high season.

To apply, tourists must visit epass.tnega.org, enter their contact number or email for OTP verification, choose their destination, and fill in vehicle details, travel dates and accommodation proof. The passes are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. The system helps officials track how many vehicles and travellers are entering at a time and for how long, allowing smarter planning around waste management, traffic flow and resource use.

Mussoorie's QR code experiment is still in its early phase, but if successful, it could change the way Indian travellers think about their weekend getaways - less about spontaneity, more about sustainability.