Rohtang Pass to get mobile connectivity soon
AS PER NGT ORDERS, ONLY 1,200 VEHICLES CAN PLY THROUGH ROHTANG ON A DAILY BASIS. DAILY LIMIT FOR PETROLRUN VEHICLES IS 800 AND FOR DIESEL VEHICLES IS 400
SHIMLA: The 13,500-ft high Rohtang Pass, the gateway to the tribal Lahaul and Spiti district, of Himachal Pradesh will soon get mobile connectivity.The Kullu district administration had been trying to persuade various cellular service providers for long to set up their towers to relay mobile signals at the Rohtang pass, which is a favourite tourist destination.
“After long deliberations with different telecom companies, we have finally convinced one of them to provide their service in Rohtang. They will set up their towers there in the next two weeks,” Kullu deputy commissioner Yunus said.
The Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the biggest cellular service provider in Himachal, had earlier expressed its inability to set up towers at Rohtang. “It is one of the toughest terrains for expanding telecom sector,”said a senior official of BSNL who did not want to be named.
“Right now, the highest point in Rohtang is buried under snow. As soon as snow is cleared off, the telecom tower will be set up,” said Yunus. The Rohtang pass experiences heavy snowfall and remains closed for vehicular traffic for six months a year.The commuters crossing the Rohtang pass usually face communication problems as it lacks mobile connectivity.
After the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed restrictions on the movement of vehicles to Rohtang, the mountain pass is visited by nearly 8,000 tourists daily during summer time.
As per NGT orders, only 1,200 vehicles can be allowed to ply through Rohtang on a daily basis. The daily limit for petrolrun vehicles is 800 and for diesel vehicles is 400, which include buses, four-seaters and maxicabs that carry 8 to 15 passengers.
Makar Dhawaj Sharma, a Manali resident and president of Himachal Pradesh taxi union, has welcomed the prospect of mobile connectivity at Rohtang. “Lack of proper connectivity in Rohtang has always remained a big problem. Rohtang is the main attraction for all tourists coming to Manali. There are frequent instances when commuters get stranded due to inclement weather conditions in the area. Mobile network will be a great boon for tourists, locals and the administration.”
Kaushal Bhardwaj, a travel agent of Manali, said “Rohtang has a tough terrain. Sometimes due to lack of proper knowledge about the area, tourists go missing and in the absence of mobile connectivity, they can’t contact their friends or the administration for help. Even the police have to struggle hard to rescue missing tourists. In such circumstances, mobile connectivity will be a big help.”