Tourists with Rohtang permits stopped at Marhi, get into scuffle

Manali: The will to see snow, the tedious task of generating online permits to visit Rohtang areas, and tourists being stopped 17km before Rohtang Pass have created chaotic conditions in Manali, leading to scuffles between tourists and local authorities. Tourists, in the name of snowpoint, are being allowed to only visit Marhi -- 34km from here -- where in fact the snow has already melted away.Little patches of snow, which have now turned into ice, are available near Marhi.
The permit that tourists are booking online after paying a fee of Rs500, along with congestion charges of Rs50, clearly mentions ‘Permit to visit Rohtang'. Tourists fight with the police and local authorities, questioning them that when they have a permit to visit Rohtang, why are they being forced to stop at Marhi? Many tourists were reportedly boarding buses bound for Lahaul Valley to reach Rohtang Pass, where snow is available in abundance.
Thousands of tourists are visiting Manali every day, but only the lucky ones are getting permits, or taxis that already have permits. The daily limit of online permits for Rohtang and areas beyond Gulaba is 800 petrol and 400 diesel engine vehicles. While some tourists are ready to pay any amount to get a cab to Rohtang, those not getting permits are requesting local officers and people at the Gulaba barrier to let their vehicles go to Rohtang. This is resulting in arguments, as tourists who already possess permits, are being stopped at Marhi.
District tourism development officer Rattan Gautam said the online system is new, and efforts were being made to streamline everything. He added: "Rohtang Pass will be thrown open within four days, as work is on to create adequate parking space."
On Wednesday, the first day of the permit system, the police had a tough time dealing with tourists at Marhi, who were showing them the permits to visit Rohtang at the checkpost, and asking them to open the barrier. But the police and officials from the tourism department had to convince them that Rohtang had no parking facility, and the entire region (including Marhi) is also part of Rohtang.
The Kullu administration had requested the Border Roads Organization to remove snow and make parking places on Rohtang Pass, the lack of which is delaying the opening of the pass for tourists. Kullu additional district magistrate Vinay Singh Thakur said three JCB machines had been hired to remove snow on Rohtang Pass to make adequate parking space for tourist vehicles. "We are expecting to open Rohtang for tourists by Sunday. Facilities like eco-friendly toilets and police security will also be arranged," he said.