Kullu: As crippling traffic jams continue to plague Manali during the ongoing tourist season, the police have recommended a major overhaul of the town's transport infrastructure. The recommendations include shifting the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus stand out of the town centre, developing multi-level parking facilities and setting up a dedicated traffic wing to cope with the mounting vehicular pressure.
In a recent communication to the Kullu superintendent of police, Madan Lal, the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Manali, K D Sharma, said the existing road infrastructure was struggling to cope with the increasing traffic pressure and called for urgent government intervention to improve traffic management and public convenience.
The communication stated that tourist inflow into Manali had increased substantially following the commissioning of the Atal Tunnel in 2020, establishing the town as a major destination for domestic and international visitors. During peak summer and winter seasons, around 10,000 to 12,000 tourist vehicles enter Manali every day, in addition to regular local traffic, placing immense pressure on the road network. The situation is further aggravated by inadequate parking facilities and limited carriageway width, resulting in frequent traffic bottlenecks across the town, it added.
To ease congestion in the urban core, the police have proposed shifting the HRTC bus stand from its present location to Budha Camp at nearby Rangri and relocating taxi stands, jeep stands, goods carrier stands and stands for three-wheelers and tempo travellers to designated peripheral locations.
The SDPO also stressed the need for pedestrian overbridges at key locations, including Bhoot Nath temple-Manu Market, Ram Bagh Chowk-Mall Road near the Traffic Control Room, and at IBEX Chowk-Van Vihar, to improve pedestrian safety and facilitate smoother vehicular movement.
Highlighting the acute shortage of parking space, Sharma pointed out that inadequate parking along the Manali-Solang-Atal Tunnel corridor contributed significantly to congestion. The police recommended developing parking infrastructure at Bahang, Nehru Kund, Palchan, Solang, near Dhundhi Bridge and near the south portal of the Atal Tunnel.
The communication further called for the establishment of a dedicated Traffic Wing at Manali with a sanctioned strength of two sub-inspectors, three assistant sub-inspectors, five head constables and 30 constables under the supervision of a DSP or inspector (traffic). According to the communication, such a setup is essential for effective traffic regulation.
Long-term measures proposed include constructing multi-level parking facilities near the Volvo Bus Stand, New Four Lane Bridge, Hadimba Temple at Dhungri, Nehru Kund, the Solang dumping site area, Dhundhi Ground, the south portal of the Atal Tunnel and near the Green Tax Barrier at Jagatsukh.
The police also sought the construction of a double-lane bypass from Kanyal to Hadimba Temple via Chhiyal and Siyal villages, a double-lane bypass from New Bridge Manali to Club House in Old Manali, which is presently under execution, and a double-lane bypass between Nehru Kund and Solang, which has already been approved and is in process.
The SDPO has also recommended the construction of a two-lane bridge connecting the Rangri side near Simsa Chowk with the Aleo-Prini side on the left bank of the Beas. According to the communication, the bridge will help divert heavy vehicular traffic during peak tourist seasons, provide an alternative route during floods, cloudbursts and earthquakes, and strengthen permanent connectivity between the left and right banks.
Another major proposal is constructing an alternative road from Vashisht towards Jogni Waterfall to decongest the Vashisht area and facilitate implementing a regulated one-way traffic system.
The police have also recommended identification and demarcation of loading and unloading zones for light, medium and heavy transport vehicles, expedited construction of pedestrian overbridges and implementation of comprehensive traffic diversion plans backed by stronger on-ground enforcement during peak tourist seasons.
The SDPO stated that these issues and proposals had been brought to the notice of the authorities on multiple occasions in the past as well. However, with traffic pressure continuing to rise, the communication stated that the matter now warranted urgent consideration by the state government.
66,600 vehicles entered Manali in May
According to the district tourism development officer, Kullu, Rohit Sharma, around 66,600 vehicles from outside the state entered Manali in May this year, compared to nearly 41,700 during the corresponding period last year, marking an increase of about 25,000 vehicles. On weekends alone, nearly 7,500 vehicles entered the tourist town. Hotel occupancy has remained between 60% and 70% on weekdays and has reached around 90% on weekends.
"Tourist inflow has increased significantly this season, resulting in traffic congestion at several locations, particularly during weekends and peak hours. The tourism department and police are working in coordination to manage the rush, with additional personnel deployed at major tourist destinations and congestion points," said K D Sharma, SDPO, Manali.
