NGT check-post causes traffic chaos near Rohtang

Manali: Set up on the directions of National Green Tribunal (NGT), a checkpost at Gulaba, 23km from here, has become a traffic bottleneck on Manali-Leh highway due to slow processing of the permits to visit Rohtang.
Hundreds of vehicles wait for their turn to reach the only counter at Gulaba, where they are required to show the permit for Rohtang pass, Lahaul or Ladakh.As the employees at the single counter verify the permit, stamp it, give a copy of it along with a garbage bag to the driver and only then allow him to cross the post, the number of vehicles in queue keeps increasing.
Despite this, authorities have failed to set up a mechanism to speed up the process. Sources said Gulaba requires at least four parallel check-posts. Himachal Pradesh government is seeking permission from the Union forest ministry to get land on lease at Rohtang, Marhi and Gulaba to build eco-friendly market and parking spaces. Though the state has received approval for land transfer, nothing has been done so far.
On Wednesday morning, vehicles clogged the highway near Kothi Hydel Project, about 7km from Gulaba. As the check-post lacks infrastructure, police struggled to keep vehicular traffic moving.
"At times, we reach the checkpost before 5am, but they do not allow us to cross. We are forced to wait till 6am, when they start checking our permits; this causes long queue of vehicles. Only one counter and slow processing for permits is harassing both tourists and local residents," a local taxi driver Rakesh Thakur rues.
Meanwhile, a local commissioner appointed by NGT has visited Manali to check the compliance of tribunal order. An official said that the commissioner discussed various issues on effective implementation of NGT order with the administration.
"He discussed how administration can improve the system," he said.
Last week, NGT had ordered Himachal Pradesh government to redevelop the Gulaba checkpost and make it completely hi-tech.