Gridlock in paradise: Manali’s daily struggle amid traffic curbs

In the postcard-perfect valleys of Manali, daily life has turned into a grinding struggle. Traffic restrictions on the Right Bank and Left Bank roads between Kullu and Manali, introduced in response to ongoing infrastructure challenges, have stretched what was once a 38-km journey into an ordeal lasting four to six hours.

For locals, the chaos is more than just an inconvenience. Ajay, a resident of Jagatsukh, recounted how reaching Manali, barely 12 km away, now takes nearly two hours. “We need a better traffic management strategy. This cannot go on,” he said, echoing the frustration felt across the valley.

The restricted movement has forced commuters onto long detours, driving up transport costs and disrupting livelihoods. Businesses in Manali, heavily dependent on tourism, are reporting a sharp fall in visitors. With the festive and winter seasons approaching, peak periods for the industry, the economic pressure is mounting. Despite repeated appeals, authorities have yet to announce when normal traffic flow will be restored.

Tourism entrepreneur Budhi Prakash Thakur identified a glaring flaw in the current system: heavy vehicles carrying supplies are clogging the Left Bank road during the day. He suggested a practical fix — halting such vehicles near Raison and allowing them to move only at night, between 9:30 pm and 10 am, when the Right Bank road is open. This, he argued, would reduce daytime jams while ensuring timely delivery of essentials, including apple shipments vital to the local economy.

As gridlock persists, demands for relief are growing louder. Residents like Rajesh have called for a package of support measures: extending the validity of pollution control consents by six months, waiving fixed electricity demand charges, billing only for actual usage and exempting residents from house tax and garbage fees during the downturn. For tourism businesses, appeals include suspending fixed water charges, trade taxes and licence renewal fees for hotels, homestays and restaurants until traffic normalcy returns.

Hoteliers, too, are pressing for collective advocacy. “Fighting alone won’t work. We must stand together,” said one operator, who described the situation as catastrophic. “We are in agony, and no one will compensate for our losses. But united, we can push for change.”

The crisis has made clear that without decisive government intervention, the Kullu-Manali corridor risks prolonged stagnation. For a region whose economy is built on the movement of people and goods, clogged roads have become more than a nuisance. They threaten the very livelihood of its people.