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Tourism News Update |
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Enforcing ban on non-Himachali vehicles a tough task
Suresh Sharma, TNN Jun 27, 2011, 05.12am IST
MANALI: Stopping the movement of vehicles registered
outside Himachal Pradesh on Manali-Rohtang pass highway
all of a sudden is going to be a tough task for the
government as it would have a direct bearing on the
tourism business of the state.
Tourism experts in Manali said that lakhs of tourists
reach here either in their private vehicles or taxis
from their respective regions. As the government has
imposed a ban on plying of non-Himachali registered
vehicles to Rohtang pass, either they will cancel their
tour or they would have to spend some extra money to
arrange another cab to go beyond Manali. Another
challenge is to provide uninterrupted service to around
20,000 tourists everyday, while only 1,700 taxis are
available in Manali, that too when most tourists prefer
travelling alone with family or partner.
Unable to handle the non-Himachali vehicles' rush on the
first day of enforcement of law on Saturday, the
administration allowed them to go beyond the restricted
area in Kothi. Manali SDM and district tourism
development officer, Balbir Thakur, said that tourists
who were already in Manali complained that they were
unaware of the newly imposed rule, so they should be
allowed for this time only. "We let vehicles from
outside HP go beyond Marhi phase-wise. We have
distributed pamphlets throughout the district to make
people aware of the rule. No vehicles would be allowed
from Sunday onwards," he said.
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Permit must for Manali-Leh travel by non-Himachal vehicles
Manali, June 26: If you are travelling on the treacherous
475-km-long Himalayan highway that links this tourist resort
town of Himachal Pradesh to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir, do not
forget to get a permit.
The Himachal Pradesh government has made it mandatory for
people, travelling in a vehicle that does not bear Himachal
Pradesh registration number, to get a permit.
"Since the Manali-Leh highway passes through the most rugged and
inhospitable terrain of trans-Himalayas, we are ensuring that
only those drivers are allowed to drive who are familiar with
the local topography and weather conditions," District Tourism
Officer Balbir Thakur told IANS Sunday.
Government officials said the decision was taken Saturday to
regulate traffic and minimise chances of accidents on the
highway. They said vehicles coming from out of state are more
responsible for accidents and so they must get a permit.
"If a vehicle is not registered with the state, it's mandatory
to get the permission from the sub-divisional magistrate's
office in Manali during working hours (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.),
except Sundays and second Saturday every month," he said.
Thakur said movement of heavy vehicles, including trucks, has
been banned during daytime to regulate traffic.
"The trucks have been allowed to ply only from 6 p.m. to 6
a.m.," he said.
Deputy Commissioner B.M. Nanta said tourist vehicles would not
be allowed to reach even the famous Rohtang Pass, just 52 km
from here, lying on the Manali-Leh highway.
"As a number of tourist vehicles are responsible for accidents,
we are not allowing them to travel in their own vehicles till
Rohtang Pass. The tourists would have to hire a local taxi from
Kothi (15 km from Manali), if they want to travel upto Rohtang,"
he added.
The strategic Manali-Leh highway reopened June 1 after remaining
closed for over six months owing to heavy snow.
Every Tuesday it remains closed for all types of vehicles owing
to necessary repairs.
Suresh Rana, a six-time winner of the motor rally
Raid-de-Himalaya, said the entire Manali-Leh route is tough and
the pressure on the motorists is extreme. It passes through cold
deserts of Lahaul and Spiti and Ladakh.
The non-stop journey in a four-wheeler between Manali and Leh
takes 16-18 hours.
The road crosses four high mountain passes in the cold desert -
Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft), Baralacha Pass (16,020 ft), Lachlungla
Pass (16,620 ft) and Tanglangla Pass (17,480 ft). |
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Non Himachal Vehicle
banned for Rohtang Visit
MANALI: The decision of Himachal Pradesh government to ban plying of vehicles
registered outside the state towards Rohtang pass by stopping them at Manali
itself has brought Manali Hoteliers Association and Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators
Union, Manali on a confrontational course on the subject. While the taxi drivers
have welcomed the move sensing good business opportunity, hoteliers are opposing
it, fearing low occupancy in future in the wake of the decision.
Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators Union, Manali has a fleet of 1,700 cabs and the ban
on vehicles registered outside the state will mean good bookings for them, as
everyday, around 3,000-4,000 vehicles carrying around 20,000 tourists head for
Rohtang pass.
Over 500 hoteliers, besides hundreds of shopkeepers, are annoyed with the fresh
directive. "Fundamental rights of the common man are being snatched away,"
Manali Hoteliers' Association president Gajender Thakur said. They have already
sent a letter of resentment to chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal over the
decision, Thakur said.
Worried hoteliers on Saturday held an emergency meeting to discuss the issue.
"We earn our livelihood from tourists coming from other states. Stopping their
vehicles on Manali-Rohtang highway would definitely affect tourism prospects in
the long term. Before taking such a decision, government should have taken
suggestions from those associated with tourism industry," he said.
The hoteliers have asked the government to withdraw its decision at the
earliest. "According to Indian Motor Vehicle Act, if a vehicle obtains national
route permit, then it cannot be prevented from going anywhere in the country.
Then why our guests from outside the state are being stopped to drive on a
particular stretch of highway," asked many hoteliers.
On the other hand, the taxi operators are thanking the government over the ban.
After forwarding a thank-you letter to chief minister, Manali Taxi Operators'
Union president GR Thakur said, "The decision has been taken in the interest of
people of Himachal. Besides saving Rohtang from ecological disaster and traffic
chaos, it would also make a big difference in the livelihood of locals," he
said.
Tourists on their part are startled by the decision. "What if Punjab government
imposes a similar ban on vehicles from Himachal Pradesh," asked a group of
tourists from Punjab. Manali SDM and district tourism development officer Balbir
Thakur said the law would be implemented fully within a few days. "Everybody
must comply with the law. Law breakers will be dealt with strictly," he said.
As residents of Lahaul-Spiti living outside the state having non-HP registered
vehicles were worried over getting necessary gate pass to reach their houses,
the administration has made some special arrangements. Special gate passes would
be issued to such residents which would be valid for a long time, the SDM said.
Kullu SP Abhishek Dular said given the traffic congestion at Kothi, movement of
non-Himachali vehicles would be restricted beyond Manali town and to keep an eye
on the vehicles, posts have been installed at three places. |
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