Until recently, heavy influx of tourists to spots near Mumbai and Pune and the traffic jams it has been causing was making news. Now, Chikhaldara in Amravati district seems to be going down the same road with unprecedented rush of tourists to the popular tourist spot in Melghat region. Looking at the chaos over the last weekend, administration is now gearing up to handle the situation better. Last weekend, people were stuck for hours together in traffic jams that extended upto almost 10 kilometers.

 

As a result, most of their time meant to be spent enjoying the picturesque beauty of Chikhaldara, was spent sitting in their four-wheelers, moving forward at an excruciatingly slow pace. In the midst of this there have also been allegations of water and food vendors taking disadvantage of the situation. With a steady rise in tourist footfall to the scenic hill station, district and police administration have now intensified safety measures for visitors as well as spruced up traffic arrangements. Ashish Yerekar, Amravati Collector, issued orders to implement one-way traffic system from Friday 2 PM to Monday 2 PM, effective immediately effectively covering the three-day holiday weekends. He gave the instruction in a review meeting held at the District Collector’s Office on Wednesday to discuss issues faced by tourists.

 

The meeting was attended by Vishal Anand, Superintendent of Police, Tehsildars of Chikhaldara and Dharni, Deputy Conservator of Forests and municipal council officers. The previously existing one-way traffic system, which was only enforced on Saturdays and Sundays, will now be implemented from 2 pm on Friday upto 2 pm on Monday for ensuring better traffic management. Six major traffic choke points have been identified. To manage them, 50 additional police personnel will be deployed in Chikhaldara and its surrounding areas. Additional staff will also be stationed at forest department checkpoints to reduce vehicle queues, and manpower will be increased at municipal checkpoints to ease crowding. In response to complaints about overpricing of bottled water and food items, establishments have been warned against selling above the fixed retail prices. Strict action will be taken under the Consumer Protection Act in case of violations. The district administration emphasised that all departments are working in coordination to ensure tourists have access to necessary facilities and a pleasant experience.

 

Tourists are encouraged to visit Chikhaldara and enjoy its natural beauty. To prevent traffic congestion and accidents, authorities have enforced strict one-way traffic rules, especially on high density routes. A special team of 14 police officers will be stationed at Tiger Point in Paratwada to monitor and regulate the crowd movement closely. To address parking concerns, local farmlands and layout areas will be temporarily used as designated parking zones. This will help in reducing road blockages and provide tourists with organised vehicle parking options. Importantly, in a move towards environmental protection and traffic management, the administration has announced that access to popular spots like Bhimkund and Panchbol will now be permitted only via authorised Gypsy vehicles. This step is aimed at reducing pollution and preserving the fragile ecosystem of the region. Officers emphasised that visitor safety and convenience remains top priorities and all departments were fully prepared and actively working to ensure a seamless tourist experience in Chikhaldara.