Pic Courtsey: Amar Ujala
Rohtang Pass(13050 ft) has been cleared of snow for the year 2013 and heavy vehicle movement has been started. To start with only buses and trucks for Keylong are being allowed to cross the mighty Rohtang Pass.
Rohtang Pass, which is a gateway to the landlocked Lahul Valley and remains closed from December onwards is a famous and must visit place for tourists visiting Manali in the summer season. The Manali-Leh highway is maintained by GREF, a unit of Border Road Organisation.
GREF officials said till restoration of normal traffic on the 115 km stretch between Manali and Keylong, limited public transport buses will be allowed in the next few days.
Being an ecological fragile area, Rohtang Pass has also attracted the attention of Himachal Pradesh High Court. The court ordered the state government to remove all unauthorized food stalls and dhabas polluting forest areas beyond Marhi on theManali-Rohtang highway.
The order was issued by the High Cour while hearing a petition that raised concern over harm caused to the Rohtang glacier. The court also asked the state authorities to provide substitute mobile vans that can supply food and drinking items to the tourists. Its responsibility should be taken by the HP tourism department, the court said.
Like previous year, non Himachal Pradesh registered cars and taxis will NOT be allowed to travel towards Rohtang Pass. This has been done to regulate traffic as per the orders of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. A time table has been stipulated for vehicles going towads Rohtang Pass.
According to National Environmental Engineering Regional Institute (NEERI) study, during the end of May 2012 the number of vehicles on Palchan-Rohtang highway was 3,250 on both ways, out of which 80% were cars. About 10,000 people visit Rohtang Pass every day while the width of the road from Manali to Rohtang is not wide enough to sustain this traffic, leading to massive traffic jams.
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