Manali, June 4 (IANS) The 475-km Manali-Leh highway, which remains closed for vehicular traffic for five-six months in the winter owing to heavy snowfall, is likely to re-open for traffic Saturday.
‘The highway will most likely be reopened Saturday evening,’ said S.K. Doon of the General Reserve Engineering Force, a wing of the Border Roads Organisation.
‘The snow clearance operation is almost near completion. If the weather remains favourable, the highway will again be made motorable for all types of vehicles by Saturday,’ he said.
The Manali-Leh highway, connecting Himachal Pradesh with Jammu and Kashmir, winds its way through the Rohtang Pass (13,050 ft), Baralacha Pass (16,020 ft), Lachlungla Pass (16,620 ft) and Tanglangla (17,480 ft).
The highway plays an important role in the movement of the armed forces to forward areas in Ladakh.