Traffic curbs have been lifted on the Ooty-Kotagiri-Coimbatore route and tourist spots across the Nilgiris have reopened after heavy rain and landslides disrupted road connectivity in the hill district, providing relief to residents and the hospitality industry ahead of the Deepavali festival.
The Ooty-Coimbatore National Highway, the only National Highway in the Nilgiris, had been closed after a landslide near Burliar and minor slips along the Coonoor-Burliar-Mettupalayam stretch. While the highway remains under restoration, vehicles travelling between Ooty and Coimbatore had been diverted through the Kotagiri road from dawn to dusk.
Authorities have now removed the restrictions on the Ooty-Kotagiri-Coimbatore road, allowing traffic to move on the route throughout the day and night. Tourist attractions that had been closed since Saturday because of the rain have also reopened.
The disruption followed rainfall that affected the hills from the first week of October, around the onset of the northeast monsoon in the region. The rain helped the Nilgiris recover from deficit rainfall recorded during the preceding southwest monsoon season, but it also caused slope damage and a fatal landslide last Friday night.
The National Highways wing has been working to clear rubble and other debris from the Burliar stretch. Officials are expecting experts to assess temporary restoration measures on the Burliar-Coonoor section, with the aim of resuming traffic on the Ooty-Burliar-Coimbatore road.
The initial restoration plan is expected to permit only one-way traffic on the affected road. This arrangement would remain in place until permanent works are completed, including the construction of retaining walls and additional road-strengthening measures.
The reopening of tourist locations and the removal of restrictions on the alternative road restore access during a key period for the Nilgiris’ hospitality sector. The district’s road network, however, remains dependent on the assessment of slopes and the phased repair of the damaged highway.
The immediate next step is the arrival of experts to evaluate temporary restoration work on the Burliar-Coonoor stretch. Further traffic arrangements will depend on that assessment and on the progress of permanent retaining-wall and road-strengthening works.
