Shimla: According to press release of BRO, which appeared in sections of media here said that the Rohtang Pass would be officially closed for vehicular traffic from 31st October as it has started snowing and maintenance crew would be withdrawn from the road by the end of this month.
Meanwhile district administration spokesman at Keylong told HimVani that the matter would be taken up with BRO again by the state government to keep it open till November 15, 2011 just like last year, as Apple crop is being transported out of Lahaul valley.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the Pass closes officially for traffic after October 31 while it was kept open till November 15th in 2010. The BRO could continue the snow clearing operations as the winter snowfall occurred on 25th December last year thus completely closing the road.
Rohtang Pass is the one of the major hurdle on the Manali – Leh highway, a strategically important road mostly used by Indian Army to reach supplies to border posts along the Chinese border. The winter closing of traffic is likely to be resolved soon as construction of all weather Rohtang tunnel is underway to link the Kullu valley with Chandra valley. The tunnel work is on the war footing as five km long tunnel is about to be complete while BRO sources claim that it would be commissioned ahead of schedule in the year 2013-14.
Hey Varun
Well, few weeks back a similar report was published for Rohtang Pass closure in Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Manali-Leh-highway-to-be-open-till-Nov-30/articleshow/10201995.cms) but in that it was said that BRO will keep it open till the end of November. Has the decision been changed or reverted?
Regards
Dheeraj
I´m reading the same story in The Times of India , and get a very different view on a closer look : BRO never uses the word closed or closure , they say it “may get blocked soon” from snowfall. DC in Keylong says that HRTC buses will keep on running.
http://vistet.wordpress.com/2011/11/01/snow-cutters-rumor-mills-ladakh-winding-down-for-the-winter/
I had a wonderful experience at the Rohtang Pass last week… Snow peacked mountains, para gliding, sking etc…One should definately visit & experience heaven on earth!
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