No electric bus service to Rohtang Pass, for now

MC Thakur

ManaIi, April 27

In what may come as a major relief to Manali taxi operators, Transport, Forest, Sports and Youth Services Minister Govind Singh Thakur has said that the proposed plying of electric buses on the Manali-Rohtang Pass route has been suspended for now.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was supposed to flag off electric buses to Rohtang from Manali on April 30 during his three-day visit to Kullu and Manali from April 28.

Thousands of operators of the Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators’ Union on Friday met the minister in Manali and urged him not to start the service to the Rohtang Pass, as it would hit their livelihood.

Union president Raj Kumar Dogra said the minister had assured them that the flagging-off ceremony had been cancelled and that the buses would not ply on the Manali-Rohtang route.

He said taxi operators would provide the best services to tourists in summer months and would comply with the NGT order.

The minister said the government was looking for a middle path keeping in view the NGT order on protecting the environment in and around the Rohtang Pass.

Notably, the peak tourist season in Manali starts in May. Thousands of tourists flock to the hill station to get respite from scorching heat and high humidity in the plains. Currently, tourists are not being allowed beyond Gulaba, 23 km from here on the Manali-Rohtang road.

Manali SDM Raman Gharsangi said tourist vehicles would be allowed up to Marhi, 35 km from here, from May 1. People would be allowed to go to the Rohtang Pass only after ensuring their safety, toilet facilities, adequate parking space and garbage collection facilities, he added.

Vehicles to be allowed up to Marhi from May 1

Manali SDM Raman Gharsangi said tourist vehicles would be allowed till Marhi, 35 km from here, from May 1. People would be allowed to go to the Rohtang Pass only after ensuring their safety, toilet facilities, adequate parking space and garbage collection facilities, he added.

The peak tourist season in Manali starts in May. Thousands of tourists flock to the hill station to get respite from scorching heat and high humidity in the plains.