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Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Planning a trip to Mussoorie? These new tourist rules every traveller must know
If you're planning a long weekend getaway to Mussoorie from 15th to 17th August, there are some important new rules you should know. Mussoorie, the picturesque 'Queen of the Hills,' continues to attract travellers year-round with its cool climate and scenic beauty. However, the sharp rise in tourist numbers has begun to overwhelm the town's infrastructure, leading to traffic snarls, water shortages, and environmental stress. In an effort to manage this surge responsibly, the Uttarakhand government has introduced new digital regulations for both tourists and accommodation providers. From mandatory online guest registration to proposed pre-arrival QR codes, these measures aim to streamline crowd control and protect Mussoorie's fragile ecosystem while ensuring a smoother, safer experience for visitors. Digital guest registration now mandatory in Mussoorie To streamline tourist monitoring, all hotels, guest houses, and homestays in Mussoorie must now register on a new digital portal developed by the Uttarakhand Tourism Department. Accommodation providers are required to log guest details in real time at check-in through the platform. Key details required from accommodation providers: Property name and type (hotel, homestay, etc.) Total number of rooms and guest capacity Owner's name and contact information Once registered, establishments must regularly update guest check-in data on the portal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experience next-level CPAP comfort with Resmed AirSense 11 ResMed Enquire Now Undo The goal is to build a centralised, transparent database to support better crowd and infrastructure management. Tourist pre-registration may soon be required in Mussoorie Beyond regulating accommodations, authorities are considering a mandatory tourist pre-registration system during peak seasons. Visitors may soon need to register online before travelling to Mussoorie. The proposed system would include: OTP-based online registration Submission of traveller and vehicle details Generation of a QR code upon registration Visitors would need to present this QR code at one of Mussoorie's main entry points: Kimadi, Kempty Fall, or Kuthal Gate, each equipped with Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems for verification. Why Mussoorie is introducing these new measures Tourist numbers to Mussoorie reportedly doubled between 2022 and 2024, boosting local businesses but also placing immense pressure on the town's infrastructure. The surge in visitors has led to frequent traffic jams, a shortage of parking space, mismanagement of solid waste, and a noticeable decline in water availability. Environmental concerns have become so serious that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Uttarakhand government to regulate tourist footfall in ecologically sensitive areas. These new measures are part of a broader effort to strike a sustainable balance, encouraging tourism while protecting Mussoorie's natural environment for future generations. What Mussoorie's new rules mean for travellers If you're planning a visit to Mussoorie, here's how you can stay prepared under the new guidelines: Book accommodation that is officially registered with the Uttarakhand Tourism portal. Ask about digital check-in procedures when making your reservation. Stay updated on whether tourist pre-registration becomes mandatory, and complete the process in advance if required. Carry your QR code and ensure your vehicle details are accurate for hassle-free entry through checkpoints. As Mussoorie embraces a more digitised and sustainable tourism model, travellers are encouraged to do their part by following these new regulations. These steps aim to ensure that the hill station remains as welcoming and beautiful for future visitors as it is today.
Hindustan Times
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Pune Airport awaits nod for automated vehicle penalty system
Pune: In light of the significant rise in the number of private vehicles ferrying passengers to and from the Pune International Airport, the airport authorities have proposed the implementation of an advanced Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system to monitor and penalise the vehicles that halt for extended periods. The system would automatically detect vehicles overstaying in restricted zones and issue fines accordingly. Pune, India - October 5, 2017: Airport pune at Lohegaon in Pune, India, on Thursday, October 5, 2017. (Photo by Rahul Raut/HT PHOTO) The proposal was sent to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) two to three months back, according to a Pune airport official. However, as the necessary approval has not yet come, the airport continues to rely on manual enforcement methods, which have proven to be inadequate in tackling the issue. With passenger traffic increasing, travellers usually prefer to use private cars or app-based cabs for timely and hassle-free commutes. According to AAI regulations, there is a defined time limit for private vehicles to remain in the terminal area, and if a vehicle remains beyond the allotted time, it is subject to penal action. To enforce these rules, the Pune airport authorities have deployed a small team of four to five personnel, which is not adequate to manage the traffic inflow. Many private vehicles which are parked for long durations go unchecked, contributing to congestion and operational challenges. To address this problem, the proposal to implement the ANPR-based automated system was submitted to AAI by the Pune airport authorities. Pune Airport director Santosh Dhoke said, 'The proposal for implementing ANPR has been submitted to the AAI, but approval is still pending. In the meantime, the airport continues to rely on limited manpower for carrying out penalty actions, which falls short of effectively managing the situation caused by prolonged parking of private vehicles near the terminal.' As the airport continues to rely on the manual penalty system, officials attempt to identify and act against vehicles violating the time limits. However, enforcement is often met with resistance. Staff report that drivers frequently argue or refuse to comply when asked to vacate the area. These interactions have at times escalated into verbal altercations, further complicating the enforcement process. According to the updated airport regulations issued in June 2025, private vehicles are allowed a grace period of 15 minutes within the terminal area. Any vehicle exceeding this time is liable to pay a fine of ₹500, which would be collected through the automated ANPR system once operational. Until now, due to the lack of approval of the new system, fines are being collected manually by the enforcement staff. Historically, the fine structure has evolved over time. In 2016, a fee of ₹85 was imposed for vehicles halting more than seven minutes. In 2019, the allowed duration was reduced to three minutes, with a penalty of ₹340. The current proposal aims to introduce a more streamlined and technology-driven approach through the ANPR.
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
High-tech cams, CCTV, FASTag, toll plaza inputs: How West Bengal police tracked and nabbed Bihar shooters in Kolkata
Around 9am on July 18, a day after Bihar gangster Chandan Mishra was shot dead at Paras Hospital in Patna, the West Bengal police received an alert from their counterparts in Bihar that the gang behind the crime was heading towards West Bengal. The gang members were not using any cellphones to stay off the grid. So, there was no way the police could track them using their mobile tower location, officials said. 'The accused persons in the car had switched off their mobile phones. Hence, we were not able to track them. We had the vehicle's number and its description. The only way to track them was the vehicle in which they were travelling,' said a senior IPS officer involved in the case. Officers of the West Bengal police and Kolkata Police took the help of some advanced gadgets and software to pick up digital footprints of the vehicle as it moved from one corner of the city to another. The killers had no inkling. 'Based on various inputs that were received, we were certain that the vehicle would reach Kolkata by the evening of July 18. We started analysing FASTag and toll plaza data on the route the vehicle would possibly take to reach Kolkata, such as Maithon, Dankuni, Palsit and Vidyasagar Setu,' said the officer. The white-coloured vehicle entered Kolkata around 10:30pm on July 17 through Vidyasagar Setu, which connects Kolkata and Howrah over River Hooghly. Once the vehicle was on Kolkata's roads, police started tracking it with the help of the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. ANPR is an advanced camera that automatically reads vehicle number plates as they come under the lens, allowing these details to be compared against database records. They help security agencies in tracking vehicles. The officers received inputs from Bihar police that the gang could be meeting one person named Ehsaan, who was their local contact. Ehsaan stayed at Sukhobrishti, a posh residential housing campus at New Town in Bidhannagar. ANPR data revealed that the vehicle, after entering Kolkata, took AJC Bose Road and crossed Chingrighata on EM Bypass while moving towards New Town. After a few hours the vehicle returned to Kolkata. It was spotted near Park Street around 3:50am in the early hours of July 18. 'After that, the car remained untraceable for the next few hours. There could be multiple reasons as to why even the high-end ANPR momentarily fails to track a vehicle,' said an officer. Meanwhile, the police were also scanning through other CCTV cameras installed on roads to identify the gang members inside the vehicle. The cops had clear footage of Tauseef, Nishu Khan, Harsh and Bhim in the car. 'As the vehicle went off-grid for some time, we used a specialised software for profiling. We also checked various hotels. Tracking the vehicle's movement was very critical for us. Around 5:30pm on July 18, the vehicle was again spotted near Urbana, a high-end residential housing complex in east Kolkata. As the vehicle was moving away from the arterial roads, where there were no cameras, it became difficult to trace it,' said an officer. Multiple teams were deployed in east Kolkata, particularly in Anandapur and its adjoining area where the vehicle was last spotted, to scour the area. The vehicle was then spotted near a guest house, a few metres from Anandapur police station. 'Based on real intelligence analysis, we identified a few places where the gang could be hiding. We narrowed down on Anandapur. Meanwhile, CCTV footage corroborated our analysis. The car was spotted around 70-80 metres from a guest house,' said a senior Kolkata STF officer. Teams from the Kolkata Police, STF and police commandos surrounded the guest house located in a residential area and finally arrested the four criminals, including main accused Tauseef alias Badshah, his cousin Nishu Khan and two aides, Harsh and Bhim. Police found that Tauseef had even got a haircut and shaved his beard and moustache to change his appearance. The police also said that Tauseef and his gang used decoys at least twice to throw the investigators off track. In Patna, they had roped in a woman to give the impression that they were a family. While coming to Kolkata, they had brought Nishu Khan with them, who couldn't walk and had to be carried. 'They wanted to give an impression to the hotel staff that they had come to Kolkata for Nishu's treatment,' said an officer. Since the time they entered Kolkata on the night of June 18, it took the cops less than 24 hours to track them down, identify the location and nab them. 'Human intelligence and analysis of the inputs we were receiving from some of the advanced machines played a major role in the operation. First we had to identify the area and then we had to physically verify. Once that was done, the operation to nab them was started,' said an official.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Smog showdown: How Delhi's over-age vehicle ban became a strategic stalemate
On the sweltering afternoon of July 1, at a bustling petrol station in Bawana, Delhi, Rajesh Kishore found himself turned away, not for lack of money, but because his decade-old diesel hatchback was suddenly outlawed from refuelling. Overnight, the capital had barred 6.2 million end-of-life vehicles: diesels over ten years and petrol cars beyond fifteen, from buying fuel, invoking a Supreme Court–mandated green push to curb deadly smog. What was intended as a decisive environmental strike quickly morphed into a textbook case of strategy gone awry. Setting the Stage: A City Chokes, and an Order Drops Delhi's air is famously dirty, rivalling the worst cities on the planet. Last year, the tiny particles in that smog (known as PM₂.₅), averaged 104 micrograms per cubic meter, which is over two and a half times higher than India's own safety limit and more than twenty times what the World Health Organization calls safe. To tackle this, officials tried to pull the oldest, smokiest vehicles off the road, hoping to cut down on harmful dust and give Delhi a few clearer, healthier days, especially in the winter. However, with barely three days' notice, implementing the ban faced unexpected challenges. Thousands of two-wheelers, taxis and trucks descended on petrol pumps equipped with Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and Transport Department officers. Only 80 vehicles were impounded on day one, hardly a drop in the 6.2 million-strong fleet, and 98 notices were handed out to drivers whose cars evaded seizure. Enter John Nash: The Man Behind Modern Strategy Nearly 75 years ago, Princeton mathematician John Nash upended economic thought with a simple insight: in any strategic interaction – from chess to trade wars – there exists a set of strategies where no player benefits by unilaterally changing their move. He called this the ' Nash equilibrium '. Legend holds that Nash sketched his idea on a cocktail napkin at a New York bar, oblivious that his theorem would one day earn a Nobel Prize and reshape fields as disparate as biology, politics, and yes, air-pollution policy. The One-Shot Deadlock: Who Moves, Who Waits In Delhi's 'ban game,' five leading actors took the field: 1. The Government is keen to deliver cleaner air while avoiding a political uproar. 2. Vehicle Owners , facing retrofit or scrappage costs: electric conversion kits run between ₹300,000 and ₹600,000, or fines for non-compliance. 3. Fuel Dealers are caught between lost sales and punitive penalties. 4. Enforcement teams were hamstrung by malfunctioning cameras and patchy data. 5. The Judiciary is ready to freeze or uphold the ban via legal review. In a one-shot game , each actor chooses once and hopes for the best. Owners calculate: scrape or retrofit at massive expense, or risk defection? Dealers weigh halting business against ticketing customers. Regulators decide whether to enforce fully or rescind in the face of chaos. When the cost of compliance eclipses perceived benefits, defection becomes the rational strategy, and regulators, seeing low seizure counts, swiftly hit 'pause.' The resulting Nash equilibrium , viz., no enforcement, widespread non-compliance, left Delhi's roads just as smoggy, and every stakeholder nursing bruised payoffs. The Fallout: Markets, Moods and Missed Opportunities The ban's fallout was almost immediate and brutal. Within days, the used-car market went into freefall – buyers, spooked by the threat of impoundment, drove prices down by 40 to 50 percent, leaving dealers from Delhi to Punjab scrambling just to break even. At the same time, a LocalCircles ( ) poll of more than 17,000 Delhi drivers revealed that 79 percent felt the measure was unfairly targeted, especially two-wheeler riders, who account for about 70 percent of the vehicles caught in the crackdown. Meanwhile, petrol-station owners warned that their livelihoods were at risk, citing plunging sales and the steep cost of installing and maintaining ANPR cameras. Daily-wage drivers, too, worried that sidelined vehicles would leave them without income. By the third day, the pressure had become too much: By July 4, the government suspended all impoundments, formally asked the Commission for Air Quality Management to halt enforcement, and pledged a three-month review to craft a new policy roadmap. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta even signalled a Supreme Court challenge seeking uniform, emissions-based rules nationwide – an acknowledgment that age-based cut-offs had sown more confusion than clarity. The Latest Twist: Interim Relief and Roadmap Just two days in, Delhi's fledgling ban hit a wall. On July 3, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa quietly urged the air-quality watchdog to hit pause, blaming faulty ANPR cameras and tangled coordination, even though, on paper, diesel cars over ten years old and petrol vehicles beyond fifteen were still barred at every pump. In practice, most stations simply stopped seizing cars, and drivers rolled up, paid, and filled up as if nothing had changed. By July 5, Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena weighed in, warning that West Delhi should not outlaw vehicles that a neighbour, like Ghaziabad, still allows. A few days later, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta confirmed Delhi would ask the Supreme Court for a uniform, emissions-based standard nationwide, a tacit admission that the abrupt age cutoff had produced nothing but stalemate. Despite the Commission for Air Quality Management's phased rollout (July 1 in Delhi; November in five dense NCR cities; and April 1, 2026, everywhere else) on the streets the game is unchanged: no real enforcement, no real compliance, and a deadlock that shows how vital it is to line up everyone's incentives before rolling out even the boldest green policy. From Deadlock to Dialogue: Crafting a Cooperative Playbook Imagine trying to steer a crowded bus where everyone insists on sitting in their favourite seat – you will eventually end up with a jumbled mess unless you reshape the whole system so that the ' right ' choice feels natural. That's what mechanism design does: it rewrites the rules so that when each person follows their own interests, the city, as a whole, wins. In Delhi's case, picture this: instead of forcing drivers to bear hefty retrofitting costs alone, the government hands out a generous rebate the moment you retire or upgrade your old car. Suddenly, trading in that smoky hatchback doesn't sting your wallet – it feels like a fair bargain for cleaner streets. Next, imagine the ban rolled out like a season of your favourite show, with clear release dates, regular progress updates and well-trained pump attendants ready to scan plates without confusion. People stop scrambling and start planning, turning anxiety into cooperation. And rather than guessing who pollutes based on age, inspectors simply run a quick tailpipe test. If your car meets the standard, you are good to go – no matter if it is five or fifteen years old. This smart swap rewards genuinely cleaner vehicles and snags the real offenders, old or new. Finally, treat this as a long-term partnership rather than a one-day decree: top up subsidies on schedule, keep enforcement steady, and make it plain that any backtracking means those perks vanish. Over time, drivers and dealers learn that sticking to the new rules is not just a hassle; it is the easiest, smartest way to keep Delhi's air, and their own futures, clear. A Breath of Fresh Strategy Delhi's over-age vehicle ban was a bold first move. However, announcing the ban in the strategic policy dance opens the conversation. The real challenge lies in designing rules where every actor, viz., the Government, drivers, dealers, and courts, finds cooperation more rewarding than defection. By weaving Nash's insights into smart incentives, phased signals and fitness-based standards, Delhi can transform a one-off skirmish into a sustained advance against smog. Only then will the city's lungs and people truly breathe easier.
NDTV
11-07-2025
- NDTV
Travelling To Mussoorie Will Soon Need An Online Check-In Before You Go
Mussourie is a go-to destination for many travellers. Reason? Besides the perfect blend of natural beauty and colonial charm, the place's proximity to Delhi and Dehradun makes it an easily accessible escapade. But visiting this misty wonderland is soon going to need a registration before you go. What Considering the rising tourist numbers in Mussourie between 2022 and 2024, the Uttarakhand authorities are planning to introduce a pre-registration system for travel enthusiasts during peak seasons. The move is to fight traffic jams and congestion that Mussoorie sees during peak season every year. According to reports, over 11 lakh tourists visited Mussourie in 2022, with the numbers doubling to 21 lakhs in 2024 and hence the decision. What You Need To Do Before Visiting Mussoorie Before entering Mussoorie, travellers will need to fill out an online form with their contact details, vehicle number, accommodation, and dates of stay. After that, they are going to receive an OTP for registration purposes, followed by a QR code. It will be mandatory to show the QR code at any one of the three major checkpoints: Kempty Falls, Kuthal Gate or Kimadi. Domestic travellers will get the OTD on their phones, while international visitors will receive it via email. Tourists without a code will not be allowed to enter Mussoorie. Additionally, officials also intend to install Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems at the three main entry points to verify the QR codes as well as monitor the vehicles. Cameras will also be installed at the entry points to monitor inflow in real-time. What Officials Say Tourism Secretary Dhiraj Singh Garbyal stated that the system will first be introduced during high-traffic times like summer and winter holidays, as well as extended weekends, when tourist congestion is typically high. "The problem of overcrowding and long traffic jams is only during the peak season, so there's no point in having a year-round pre-registration system. Our teams are working on introducing the concept during those times,' said Dhiraj Singh Garbyal in a conversation with The Times of India. Tourism authorities recently held a meeting with Mussoorie stakeholders to review the proposed initiative. They also suggested steps such as converting certain roads into one-way routes during peak tourist seasons to ease traffic flow.
