Category: Manali-Rohtang Highway

After Kullu administration had established a check-post to regulate number of vehicles going to Rohtang pass at Gulaba in compliance with National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, another check post has been established at Kothi village, 14km from here to strictly adhere to the order. The administration is receiving many complaints about people crossing Gulaba barrier illegally. The fingers were raised at functionality of the check-post as the staff was allowing more than permissible number of vehicles. Manali administration also caught many vehicles red-handed and fined them heavily. As all vehicles are checked for permit at Gulaba, the slow processing speed here was resulting in over 5km-long jams. The new check-post at Kothi, 10km before Gulaba, will assist the Gulaba check-post and will stop the illegal entry of the vehicles. All the vehicles going to Marhi, Rohtang pass, Ladakh, Lahaul-Spiti or Pangi will have to first show their permit at Kothi check-post. Those having a valid permit will be allowed to proceed to Gulaba. Manali sub-divisional magistrate Ashwani Kumar said the vehicles will be first stopped at Kothi barrier which will also help in controlling the traffic at Gulaba and till Rohtang. “I had called a meeting where officials from all the departments were present on Monday. We discussed on various issues including functionality of Gulaba check-post and traffic jams. The barrier established at Kothi has been made functional,” he said. Talking about illegal plying of vehicles in contempt of NGT order, Ashwani said the new check post will cross check the illegal entry of such vehicles and those not complying with order would not be spared. “We are strictly complying with NGT directives. We have warned people that if anything wrong is found, the offenders will be dealt with strictly. If anybody try to make us fool by disobeying tribunal