Leh-Delhi bus service begins after 21 months

Kullu, July 1

The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) today resumed bus service between Leh and Delhi, which had remained suspended amid Covid for about 21 months. The service continues till September after which various passes on the route see snowfall. The service was not resumed last year.

Lahaul and Spiti SP Manav Verma flagged off the bus from Keylong. He lauded the efforts of HRTC personnel to operate in a tough terrain. He said the bus would improve the tourist influx in the valley.

The 1,026-km journey between Leh and Delhi takes around 30 hours. Mangal Chand Manepa, regional manager of the HRTC, Keylong depot, said the fare of the one-way journey would be Rs 1,548. The bus will tentatively depart at 4 am from Leh for Delhi on July 2 and the time might be revised as the distance and travel time had been reduced because of Atal Tunnel. He said the RT PCR report was still mandatory to enter Ladakh and tourists should carry the report to avoid undue hassles.

He said the bus service between Killar and Chamba through the Sach Pass was also resumed yesterday. He said electric buses were also plying smoothly between Manali and Keylong through Atal tunnel for the past couple of weeks. —OC