Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Pradesh News : Tourist surge, lane jumping trigger massive traffic chaos on Manali–Rohtang Pass route
Heavy tourist inflow and traffic violations caused hours-long jams on the Manali–Rohtang Pass route after 4X4 vehicles were allowed beyond Marhi.
A massive traffic jam brought the scenic Manali–Rohtang Pass route to a standstill on Tuesday after authorities allowed 4X4 vehicles to travel beyond Marhi until Wednesday. The sudden surge in tourist vehicles, coupled with traffic indiscipline and inadequate on-ground management, resulted in hours-long snarls, leaving commuters stranded and angry.
The situation worsened as damaged stretches between Manali and Palchan turned into major bottlenecks. The road, which diverges towards the Atal Tunnel via Solang and towards Rohtang via Kothi, struggled to handle the volume of traffic. Although only 1,200 vehicles are permitted to cross the Gulaba barrier daily, a far larger number of tourists converged at Gulaba and Sissu, adding to the congestion.
Traffic chaos was most severe on the Hadimba Temple Road, a crucial arterial route in Manali. In an attempt to bypass the congestion, many drivers diverted towards the Log Huts road, only to get stuck again due to illegal and haphazard parking on both sides of the narrow stretch. In several locations, clearing the jam took over 30 minutes. The absence of police personnel at multiple choke points further aggravated the situation, forcing tourists to manage traffic themselves.
“This is a recurring problem during the tourist season. Vehicles move at a crawling pace throughout the day,” said local residents, voicing frustration over the lack of effective traffic regulation.
The ongoing Christmas and New Year rush has intensified the problem, with over 1,000 tourist vehicles and around 100 Volvo buses entering Manali daily — a number that increases sharply on weekends.
While the temporary opening of the Rohtang Pass to 4X4 vehicles acted as the immediate trigger, locals and commuters blamed widespread traffic indiscipline for the chaos. “The real issue is not just the number of vehicles but blatant violations — illegal parking and constant lane jumping made the situation unmanageable,” said a tourist stranded in the jam, demanding strict penalties for offenders.
Manali Deputy Superintendent of Police KD Sharma acknowledged the manpower shortage but said reinforcements were on the way. “Additional personnel are expected by December 20. We have requested three additional police reserve battalions and 100 Home Guards,” he said. Nearly 200 additional personnel will be deployed across Manali from Christmas through the Winter Carnival to strengthen security and traffic management.
However, for hundreds of commuters who spent hours trapped in gridlock, assurances of future deployment offered little relief. Locals and tourists alike stressed the need for immediate and effective on-ground traffic control to prevent a repeat of such chaos.
