Anticipating all-time high tourist rush in Manali during New Year celebrations, Kullu police have imposed many strict traffic rules in the district, especially on Manali-Atal tunnel highway as over 8,000 vehicles are expected to enter the tunnel.
Record 5,450 vehicles had entered Atal tunnel from both ends on Sunday. Now police said number of vehicles entering the 9.02km long tunnel, which has become the major tourist spot of Himachal, can go beyond 8,000 in next few days. Police have made no-overtaking zones, tow-away zones and marked special parking places. A heavy fine is being slapped on traffic rule violators.
Kullu superintendent of police Gaurav Singh said 130 cops have been deployed between Manali and Atal tunnel to check traffic and Covid-19 violations besides ensuring tourist safety. He said 40 such cops have been deployed in Manikaran and units having 15 cops each have been deployed at Tirthan, Jibhi and Jalori pass.
“Manali is a small town with limited carrying capacity. We shall allow tourist vehicles as per available carrying capacity. The vehicles shall be staggered before reaching Manal and will be allowed in batches of 500 and 1,000. Tourists will observe slow-moving traffic during this time. Once the first batch reaches Palchan, Solang valley and beyond, another batch will be allowed. Road between Palchan to tunnel will be no overtaking zone. The vehicles will again be allowed batch-wise through the tunnel,” the SP said.
He added that tourists generally stop anywhere after watching snow or scenic place but vehicles cannot be parked anywhere. “If there is space by roadside, vehicles can be parked. Otherwise, such vehicles will be towed. Once the vehicle leaves Solang for Atal tunnel, it cannot take u-turn from midway and vehicle needs to go till south portal of the tunnel. At portal of the tunnel, tourists will have a choice to enter the tunnel or return back to Manali,” he added.
He informed that police are challaning vehicles for jumping queues and overtaking from Palchan to tunnel. He said over 50 vehicles have been challaned for overtaking and rash driving in the last 24 hours. The vehicles are being detained after challan and are being allowed to go after queue is cleared.
He further added that 25 tourists have been challaned till date for creating nuisance inside the tunnel that cause obstruction in traffic movement and 10 of them have been slapped with fine of Rs 50 thousand. “Tourists are requested not to come out of the vehicle for dancing and creating nuisance even if vehicles are needed to be stopped in the tunnel during the process of clearing a batch.”
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