SHIMLA: Border Road Organization(BRO) karamyogis in action in the snowland have opened the 473 km long Manali-Keylong-Serchu-Leh National highway in a record time by clearing the snow on the 16043 ft high Bara Lacha Pass for the movement of army convoys. BRO has already restored the Srinagar-Zozila Pass-Leh highway ID yesterday connecting the western sector.
According to the BRO, the Highway was opened today after the BRO cleared the snow at the Bara Lacha, Shinkul La and other highland spots on this strategic highway. Last year the Pass was opened on March 28, said the BRO engineers. By this BRO has paved the way for the long tourist season in Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti.
The highway was closed for over 117 days due to the onset of winter on November 29, 2021. BRO dropped six operators at Bara La Cha pass and started snow clearing operation from Serchu and Patsio side to clear the pass today and restored the 210 km long Manali-Serchu axis. 
The opening of the highway will facilitate essentials of army convoys to the Ladakh sector including Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battle ground. The civilian for the that matter tourist vehicles will not be allowed beyond Darcha so till the administration gives its nod, said the BRO engineers.
Time was when the Manali-Leh highway would remained shut for 180 days in wintermonths. But now, the closure time of the highway has been reduced to 110 days or so, BRO said.
District administration in association with travel agents hold First ever snow marathon Lahaul, which became a good draw for the tourists and locals, said Neeraj Kumar, DC Lahaul-Spiti. 
The movement of tourists to Manali, Shimla, Dalhousie, Dharamshala and other hill stations has picked up for the last one week due to the unusually hot March month in the northern states including Himachal. The sunrays are falling sharply on the mountains, sending days temperature soaring in Lahaul-Spiti around 21 Degree Centigrade or so.
As a result snowline has receded very fast in Lahaul valley in the month of March when there used to be snow in Kardang, Chandra valley and Koksar, ranging from two ft to three ft in March, recalled Tashi Harpa, president of Lahaul-Spiti hoteliers’ association. 
But tourism has not picked up in Lahaul-Spitti as the tourists crossed the Atal Rohtang tunnel and visit north portal and Sissu and go back. Very few travel up to Keylong and Jispa for night stay, said the hoteliers.
“It is something unusual in Lahaul that snowfall was on lesser side this winter. Snow has melted from the lower elevation of the tri -valleys of Chandra, Jispa-Tod, Pattan -that can prepone sowing of crops by 10 -15 days, said the farmers. The dry conditions have become worry for the farmers as they will have to irrigate the fields as moisture level is poor, said Prem Yoterpa, a farmer.
