EC asks BRO for access to Rohtang pass

The Election Commission (EC) has requested the Border Road Organisation (BRO) to start the process of allowing short term usage of the 8.8 kilometre-long Rohtang tunnel in order to transport manpower and machinery in the wake of the impending general elections.

Chief Electoral Officer of Himachal Pradesh Devesh Kumar said the BRO plans to clear the snow on the Manali-Leh highway and has assured completion of the same by mid-April.

Short-term usage of the tunnel will facilitate polling personnel on duty. BRO and Public Works Department have been asked to work in tandem to hasten the progress.

Instructions were given to ensure that roads connecting remote villages to polling booths are maintained well, in a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary BK Agarwal. Directions were also issued to keep manpower and machinery ready in advance to clear the roads in case of any landslides.

Provision of airlifting poll and security personnel was also discussed in the meeting and the General Administrative Department was entrusted with the job of providing state chopper with medical and rescue teams in case of any eventuality.

Instructions were issued to tighten the vigil in adjoining border areas to curb the supply of illicit liquor, cash, illegal arms and, drugs with emphasis laid on the coordination between interstate commissioners.

Moreover, the education department has been asked to provide additional manpower as most of the polling stations are at educational institutions. Instructions were also given to install CCTV cameras at sensitive locations without any delay.

Seven phase elections in the country will begin on April 11 and conclude on May 19. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.

In Himachal Pradesh, polling for the four Lok Sabha seats at stake will be held in a single phase on May 19.