10 days on, traffic between Manali, Keylong reopens for light vehicles

The Manali-Leh highway between Manali and Keylong via the Atal Tunnel was reopened for light vehicles today after a gap of 10 days, bringing much-needed relief to residents and tribal farmers of the Lahaul region in Lahaul and Spiti district.

The route, which was closed due to floods and landslides since August 25, had caused severe inconvenience, forcing commuters to take a 45-km detour via Rohtang Pass.

The restoration of the road comes as a result of the efforts of Lahaul and Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana and the dedicated work by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The reopening will significantly benefit farmers transporting cash crops such as peas, potatoes and apples to the markets, which had been delayed due to the road closure.

MLA Anuradha Rana remained in constant communication with BRO officials throughout the crisis and kept Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and senior state authorities informed about the situation. This proactive coordination helped accelerate the road restoration process under difficult conditions.

Rana said, “Despite extreme weather and geographical challenges, the BRO stood by its commitment and has provided tremendous relief to the tribal communities and vegetable traders of Lahaul.”

During a site visit to Sissu on Saturday, Chief Engineer Rajeev Kumar of the BRO Deepak Project assured the MLA that traffic through Atal Tunnel would be restored within 24 hours. True to his word, the BRO reopened the tunnel for light vehicles today.

Rajeev Kumar also informed MLA Rana that efforts are underway to reopen the Manali–Leh and Manali–Pangi road corridors for heavy vehicles in the coming days. “Hundreds of workers, officers and BRO personnel are currently deployed with heavy machinery working day and night to clear the remaining blockages,” he said.

The reopening of the Atal Tunnel marks not only the restoration of a vital connectivity lifeline but also demonstrates effective coordination between local leadership and central agencies in times of natural calamities.

The Atal Tunnel, which connects Manali with Lahaul-Spiti, is not only a symbol of modern engineering but also a crucial economic and strategic route for Himachal Pradesh. Its closure due to natural disasters had caused disruption in the transportation of goods, mobility of locals and posed significant challenges for farmers dealing with perishable produce.

With the road now operational for light vehicles, residents hope that full restoration for heavy vehicles would soon follow, allowing normalcy to return to the region’s trade and travel activities.