Manali: Bringing cheers to thousands of tourists who throng Himachal to escape the scorching heat of plains, gates of snow-bound Rohtang pass has finally been opened for tourists on today.
Eight to ten feet thick blanket of silvery white snow would entertain tourists till mid or late July.
The competition to reach mountain top first resulted in a beeline of hundreds of vehicles that was witnessed on Manali-Rohtang highway throughout the day.
Many tourists were reportedly postponing their holiday plans to Manali due to closure of Rohtang pass. Now as pass has been thrown open, tourist season is expected to pick up at full swing.
Border Roads Organization (BRO) had given the road fitness report to Kullu administration on May 22.
After making confirming preparations of adequate parking and security, tourists have finally been allowed to go till Rohtang top, the most preferred tourist destination of
Himachal.
Meanwhile, BRO is working against the odds to keep the highway debris and snow free. However, road has been widened enough to accommodate two vehicles at a time.
“Our police personnel are camping at Marhi and would patrol on Rohtang pass from morning to late evening until each tourist leaves for Manali,” Manali’s Deputy superintendent of police, Shamsher Singh, said.
He added that main job of the police would be to protect tourists from any kind of trouble and to ensure smooth movement of traffic.
“Depending upon the conditions, a police team may shift to camps at Rohtang pass. We are also planning to regulate vehicles at Kothi for smooth conduct of vehicular traffic on congested road,” said Singh.
Sanjay Dutta, an engineer by qualification but is a journalist by choice.
He has worked for the premier new agency Press Trust of India and leading English daily Indian Express.
With more than a decade of experience, he has been highlighting issues related to environment, tourism and other aspects affecting mountain ecology.
Sanjay Dutta lives in a village close to Manali in Kullu valley of Himachal.
