The Himachal Pradesh government has made it mandatory for people, travelling in a vehicle that does not bear Himachal Pradesh registration number, to get a permit.

"Since the Manali-Leh highway passes through the most rugged and inhospitable terrain of trans-Himalayas, we are ensuring that only those drivers are allowed to drive who are familiar with the local topography and weather conditions,", said District Tourism Officer Balbir Thakur.

Government officials said the decision was taken Saturday to regulate traffic and minimise chances of accidents on the highway. They said vehicles coming from out of state are more responsible for accidents and so they must get a permit. "If a vehicle is not registered with the state, it's mandatory to get the permission from the sub-divisional magistrate's office in Manali during working hours (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), except Sundays and second Saturday every month," he said.

Thakur said movement of heavy vehicles, including trucks, has been banned during daytime to regulate traffic. "The trucks have been allowed to ply only from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.," he said.

Deputy Commissioner B.M. Nanta said tourist vehicles would not be allowed to reach even the famous Rohtang Pass, just 52 km from here, lying on the Manali-Leh highway. "As a number of tourist vehicles are responsible for accidents, we are not allowing them to travel in their own vehicles till Rohtang Pass. The tourists would have to hire a local taxi from Kothi (15 km from Manali), if they want to travel upto Rohtang," he added. 

The decision of Himachal Pradesh government to ban plying of vehicles registered outside the state towards Rohtang pass by stopping them at Manali itself has brought Manali Hoteliers Association and Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators Union, Manali on a confrontational course on the subject. While the taxi drivers have welcomed the move sensing good business opportunity, hoteliers are opposing it, fearing low occupancy in future in the wake of the decision.

Him-Aanchal Taxi Operators Union, Manali has a fleet of 1,700 cabs and the ban on vehicles registered outside the state will mean good bookings for them, as everyday, around 3,000-4,000 vehicles carrying around 20,000 tourists head for Rohtang pass.

Over 500 hoteliers, besides hundreds of shopkeepers, are annoyed with the fresh directive. "Fundamental rights of the common man are being snatched away," Manali Hoteliers' Association president Gajender Thakur said. They have already sent a letter of resentment to chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal over the decision, Thakur said.

Worried hoteliers on Saturday held an emergency meeting to discuss the issue. "We earn our livelihood from tourists coming from other states. Stopping their vehicles on Manali-Rohtang highway would definitely affect tourism prospects in the long term. Before taking such a decision, government should have taken suggestions from those associated with tourism industry," he said.

The hoteliers have asked the government to withdraw its decision at the earliest. "According to Indian Motor Vehicle Act, if a vehicle obtains national route permit, then it cannot be prevented from going anywhere in the country. Then why our guests from outside the state are being stopped to drive on a particular stretch of highway," asked many hoteliers.

On the other hand, the taxi operators are thanking the government over the ban. After forwarding a thank-you letter to chief minister, Manali Taxi Operators' Union president GR Thakur said, "The decision has been taken in the interest of people of Himachal. Besides saving Rohtang from ecological disaster and traffic chaos, it would also make a big difference in the livelihood of locals," he said.

Tourists on their part are startled by the decision. "What if Punjab government imposes a similar ban on vehicles from Himachal Pradesh," asked a group of tourists from Punjab. Manali SDM and district tourism development officer Balbir Thakur said the law would be implemented fully within a few days. "Everybody must comply with the law. Law breakers will be dealt with strictly," he said.

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