HALDWANI: Tourist arrivals to Nainital and Kainchi Dham remained lower during the 4-day holiday break that began over the weekend, affecting bus operators, KEMU services and taxi businesses. Passenger movement from Delhi and other plains areas to the hill districts has also declined over the past 10 days.

The slowdown has come during the October tourism season, when transport businesses were expecting stronger earnings. On the Delhi route, 9 to 10 Uttarakhand Roadways services have reportedly been cancelled each day. KEMU buses serving remote hill routes are also carrying fewer passengers.

Diversions add to taxi operators’ difficulties

Taxi operators are facing longer journeys because of diversions on the hill roads. Taxis travelling from Kainchi Dham and Bhawali are being sent through Ramgarh and Dhanachuli, increasing the distance covered on these routes.

Operators say visitors are also avoiding travel because of shuttle arrangements and stricter measures introduced after the heavy rush during the long weekend around October 2. Tourists arriving in expensive cars are being taken to Kainchi Dham through shuttle services described by operators as inadequate.

The reduced traffic has affected businesses linked to tourism, including hotels, restaurants and travel agencies. A large crowd had gathered at Kainchi Dham, Nainital and Bhimtal during the October 2 holiday weekend, giving these businesses and transport operators a strong opportunity to earn. Visitor numbers have fallen since then, according to the report.

Bus services see weak demand

Passenger demand remained low on Tuesday on both the Nainital and Delhi routes. As a result, 10 Roadways buses scheduled for the Delhi route did not operate that day. Buses travelling towards Nainital, Bhimtal and other destinations also carried fewer passengers.

Sanjay Pandey, assistant regional manager of the Haldwani depot, said passenger numbers were continuing to decline and daily earnings remained well below the target. He expressed hope that bus travel would increase during Diwali.

Himmat Singh Nyal, executive director of KEMU, said October had not been favourable for bus operators. He said some operators had reached a point where they were considering selling their buses. Nyal also attributed the fall in passengers reaching the KEMU station to taxis operating outside the authorised system.

Rail services show a mixed picture

Long-distance trains departing from Kathgodam railway station are fully booked for the next 15 days, according to the report. However, seats remain available on trains used for regular daily travel, including the Shatabdi Express, Sampark Kranti and Dehradun Jan Shatabdi.

The Shatabdi Express travelling from Haldwani towards Delhi did not show heavy passenger traffic on Tuesday, which coincided with the Dussehra holiday. This indicates that demand has not been uniform across all rail services.

Taxi operators await the festive season

Manoj Bhatt, vice-president of the Kumaon Taxi Union Federation, said taxi business had remained slow for 3 days during the festival period. He linked the decline to increased restrictions after the October 2 weekend, road diversions and visitors’ reluctance to use shuttle services.

Bhatt said taxi operators had suffered significant losses. Transport departments and private operators are now looking to the Diwali period for a possible increase in visitors and passengers.

Conclusion

Fewer visitors during the extended holiday break have reduced demand for buses and taxis serving Nainital, Kainchi Dham and other hill destinations. Operators across road transport are now relying on Diwali travel to improve business after a weak October season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Which destinations saw fewer visitors?

Nainital and Kainchi Dham saw fewer visitors during the 4-day holiday break. Bhimtal and other hill destinations also recorded lower passenger movement.

Q. How many Delhi-route Roadways services are being cancelled daily?

Between 9 and 10 Delhi-route Roadways bus services have been cancelled each day. On Tuesday, 10 buses on that route did not operate.

Q. Why are taxis travelling longer distances?

Road diversions are sending taxis from Kainchi Dham and Bhawali through Ramgarh and Dhanachuli.

Q. What happened during the October 2 weekend?

A large crowd of tourists gathered at Kainchi Dham, Nainital and Bhimtal during the long weekend around October 2.

Q. Are all trains from Kathgodam fully booked?

Long-distance trains from Kathgodam are fully booked for the next 15 days, while seats remain available on some daily travel services.

Q. Which trains still have seats available?

Seats are available on the Shatabdi Express, Sampark Kranti and Dehradun Jan Shatabdi, according to the report.

Q. What are transport operators expecting during Diwali?

Road transport operators and taxi businesses are hoping passenger and tourist numbers will rise during Diwali.