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
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
With hundreds of tourist vehicles parked everywhere on the road choking Atal tunnel – Keylong highway and the littering becoming serious issue, the growing tourist footfall in Lahaul valley has become a major headache for district administration. The problem expected to be increasing till New Year Eve, the Lahaul-Spiti administration has come up with a strict traffic plan for the valley, especially the tunnel area. Now parking along the highway will invite legal action. Tourists, after crossing the tunnel, will have to park their vehicles at Sissu helipad, 5km from the tunnel. The administration is also planning a permanent traffic plan for the entire valley keeping in view the expected rise in footfall. Tourists have made a beeline for Atal tunnel and Lahaul valley to see snow. Hundreds of tourists are reaching north portal of the tunnel. The area along the roadsides and close to Chandra river is covered with a thick blanket of snow. Tourists are leaving their vehicles parked on the highway and are going to enjoy the snow. This is resulting in serious traffic chaos. Lahaul-Spiti deputy commissioner Pankaj Rai has formed a committee to keep a check on tourism and cleanliness in the district. The SP, SDMs, BDO, CMO, divisional forest officer, executive engineers of PWD and Jal Shakti department and head of all departments have been made its members. DC and members of the committee on Wednesday visited the area between Sissu and the tunnel to check the situation. “Given the possibility of increase in tourist inflow during Christmas and New Year, the area from Atal tunnel to Sissu has been made a no parking zone starting from December 25. If tourists want to stop at any place between tunnel and Sissu, they will have to send their vehicle to Sissu helipad where we have
With hundreds of tourist vehicles parked everywhere on the road choking Atal tunnel – Keylong highway and the littering becoming serious issue, the growing tourist footfall in Lahaul valley has become a major headache for district administration. The problem expected to be increasing till New Year Eve, the Lahaul-Spiti administration has come up with a
