Centre for Responsible Tourism, Goa

The carrying capacity of the Dudsagar waterfalls needs to be studied. This is an eco-sensitive area and having uncontrolled number of tourists will only lead to destroying nature and ecology.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Dudhsagar-tourists-to-register-online/articleshow/52719360.cms

With tourists starting to throng Dudhsagar lake, having been kept off Dudhsagar falls, the administration has now made it mandatory for visitors to register online.

The lake is situated in deep forest that comes under Bhagwan Mahaveer wildlife sanctuary in the Western Ghats and forest officials have restricted the entry to 225 jeeps per day to the lake. During peak season in April-May, 225 jeeps is very less as they can ferry only 1,575 tourists.

The increased demand for vehicles has even led to scuffles between the tourists and the jeep operators.

“To avoid such incidents, the government has planned to register the tourists online from the coming season, from October. The tourists will get entry as per the registration,” collector, south Goa, Swapnil Naik said.

Its a good idea to introduce a charter train. The government should also develop basic infrastructure for tourists who will visit the area.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Charter-trains-could-make-comeback-at-Dudhsagar-falls-govt-eyes-tourist-flow/articleshow/52719345.cms

After having the Dudhsagar waterfall ‘offbound’ for a year, authorities have suggested that ‘charter trains’ could solve the issue.

A charter train was operational on the Colem-Dudhsagar route in 2011 on a trial basis. After an incident of an attack by a mob of visitors on an express train on July 12, 2015, the railway protection force (RPF) has banned the entry of visitors at the scenic Dudhsagar waterfalls at Colem in Dharbandora taluka.

For the first time in history, the popular tourist destination has worn a deserted look for nearly a year now. With the exception of RPF personnel and local police staff, nobody is seen at the falls. This is in stark contrast to when a large crowd of visitors would be seen every weekend.

Dudhsagar waterfall is equally popular among Indian and foreign tourists. Dudhsagar, literally means Sea of Milk, is a four-tiered waterfall and is among India’s tallest waterfalls with a height of 31 metre and an average width of 30 metre.

The charter train that was started on a trial basis by the Goa tourism development corporation in 2011 used to ferry tourists from Colem railway station to Dudhsagar railway station and vice-versa. The train was discontinued after having less response as the tourists used to prefer the general trains passing through the route, said collector, south Goa, Swapnil Naik.

Now, the south-western railways has also agreed to offer an engine with three bogies to run the charter train on the Colem to Dudhsagar route, Naik added.