Electric bus service begins on the Manali-Rohtang Pass route

The nation’s most tourist frequented motorable pass i.e Rohtang Pass has now been finally connected to the famous Himalayan resort town of Manali with electric bus service. The plan to run electric buses on the ecologically fragile Manali-Rohtang stretch was in the pipeline since last couple of years. With thousands of tourists visiting Rohtang Pass on daily basis during peak season, the area was witnessing meteoric rise in air pollution levels owing to large number of vehicles which ferried the tourists.

Acting on a PIL against rising pollution levels in the Himalayan environs, the NGT taking cognizance stepped in and as a preliminary measure issued orders thereby restricting the maximum number of private cars, taxis and tourist buses which can visit Rohtang on any given day. Therefore a system of issuing permits to vehicles on first come first serve basis was started as per which only 1200 vehicles are allowed to visit Rohtang Pass every day. Out of 1200 vehicles allowed daily, 800 permits are issued to petrol vehicles and 400 to diesel vehicles. And now with the running of electric buses on the Manali-Rohtang stretch the situation will improve further.

The benefits will be:
1. Ease in traffic congestion as many tourists will opt for travelling by electric buses instead of private vehicles.
2. Use of public transportation will be economically more viable for the tourists.
3. Pollution levels will come down further.
4. With lesser number of vehicles on the stretch the BRO will be able to carry on the road maintenance tasks more conveniently.

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