Tour operators harassed over faulty e-payments for Manali - Rohtang Pass Permits

Manali: Tour and taxi operators at Manali – Kullu are agitated over a faulty online transaction gateway for securing day permits to visit Rohtang Pass, where many do manage to make a payment but are left frustrated as the permit is not booked.

Manali based taxi operator Vikramjeet Singh disclosed to Hill Post that the website is faulty.

“Often, when we pay for the permit and the transaction is successful, but at the same time, the permit is not booked. He complained that when a transaction is completed, a permit should stand automatically booked but in case it is not, then the amount paid should be be refunded, which was no happening.

A number of taxi operators claim to have paid in excess of Rs 20,000 in these online transactions and are awaiting a refund as no permits were booked.

Vikramjeet says, the department’s failure to give a refund is a violation of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines which state that the amount has to be refunded within two hours in case of an RTGS transaction failure and two days in case of a NEFT failure.

He claimed that he had lost Rs 2,750 in five consecutive failed transactions on Saturday and Sunday. Thats not all – in the last 26 days I have lost more than Rs 25,000. I don’t know where my money has gone and how I will get it back, he said.

Pollo Ram, another taxi operator claimed to have lost about Rs 20,000 to failed transaction. “The payment gateway accepts the money and then turns up to show an error saying that ‘today’s quota…closed’, said Ram

Under orders from National Green Tribunal (NGT) Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation at Manali barrier is collecting Rs 6.6 lakh, on a daily basis for issue of 1200 permits for tourists to visit Rohtang Pass that the green tribunal has approved.

For going to Rohtang Pass, tourists are required to pay Rs 500 per day for a permit and Rs 50 as congestion charges by way of online booking.