MANALI: Tourism activities in Manali and Lahaul will not be hampered during the President of India Ram Nath Kovind’s visit on Saturday, the police has clarified. The President will visit Atal tunnel, Sissu and Manali (Bahang) during his one day tour on Saturday. To minimize the damage to tourism, police have come out with a traffic plan for tourists and local residents. According to the plan, traffic on the Manali-Atal tunnel and Sissu-Atal tunnel routes will be allowed only before 8am. The tunnel shall remain closed till noon. However, nearby places like Solang valley and Rohtang pass shall remain open all day so that tourists do not face any problem.
Kullu senior superintendent of police Gurdev Sharma said vehicles going towards Lahaul-Spiti, Ladakh and Atal tunnel should leave Manali before 8am. “All the vehicles will then be stopped near the tunnel at Dhundi between 10 am and 11:50am. The traffic movement on Manali-Rohtang pass will continue uninterrupted. The vehicles near the tunnel will be stopped at Dhundi parking,” he said.
As the President will also visit Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) at Bahang near Manali, the SSP said that no parking will be allowed on the roadsides between Bahang and Atal tunnel. The vehicles going to Solang valley will be guided towards the parking at the entry to Solang valley, he said.
Police have also advised the travel agencies not to organise trekking or climbing expeditions in the area near Atal tunnel on Saturday. The emergency vehicles will continue to ply the Atal tunnel route.
Meanwhile, as high peaks of the Pir Panjal, including Rohtang and tunnel areas, were covered with light clouds and some parts received light rain on Friday, experts have opined that bad weather may affect the sortie of the Mi-17 helicopter carrying the President to Lahaul valley. Weather in Rohtang area remains unpredictable and poor visibility after light rainfall or snowfall often affect sorties in the region.
