In response to the need for regulating vehicle entry into the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal, the Madras High Court recently directed the respective district administrations to establish a mechanism for issuing e-passes to vehicles intending to visit these popular hill stations.
Under this directive, the District Collectors of Nilgiris and Dindigul have been tasked with implementing an online system or form for all vehicles planning to visit the Nilgiris and Kodaikanal to submit their details and acquire an e-pass. Entry will only be permitted to vehicles with such passes
This directive was issued by a division bench composed of Justices N Sathish Kumar and D Bharatha Chakravarthy on Monday, as part of interim orders in a case concerning the determination of carrying capacity in the Nilgiris and Dindigul districts, where Kodaikanal is situated.
How to Generate an E-Pass:
- Visit https://epass.tnega.org/home and log in.
- Choose whether you are traveling from within India or from outside India.
- Select one of the options.
- Enter your phone number to receive an OTP.
- Choose your destination.
- Provide your details such as name, address, duration of stay, etc.
- Enter your vehicle details including name, number, and other relevant information.
- Complete the process to generate the pass.
Do Nilgiris Citizens Need to Purchase E-Passes?
Citizens residing in the Nilgiris District with a Nilgiris District Registration Number “TN 43” are exempt from requiring an E-pass for their vehicles.
Thiagarajan, the Regional Transport Officer of Udhagamandalam, clarified that individuals who have purchased vehicles from other districts and transferred ownership to the Nilgiris district can obtain an E-pass by visiting the Udhagai Regional Transport Office. They are required to present the original registration certificate, insurance certificate, and pollution certificate for verification before the E-pass is issued.
