Ahead of Prez’s visit, drone banned near Atal Tunnel

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Restrictions announced as district administration prepares for the President’s October 7 visit

Keylong, September 28

The Lahaul-Spiti administration has declared the Atal Tunnel north portal and adjoining areas a no-drone zone ahead of President Droupadi Murmu’s proposed visit to the district on October 7, while tourism activities in the area will also remain suspended from October 5 to 7.

Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Kiran Bhadana issued the restrictions as part of security and law-and-order arrangements for the proposed presidential visit. The order prohibits the operation of drones and other unmanned aerial devices in the designated area with immediate effect.

All vendors, tourism operators, and people involved in ziplining, river rafting, and other related activities near the north portal have been directed to suspend operations during the three-day period.

The administration has also ordered vendors and others occupying spaces in the area to remove their temporary or permanent structures and vacate the allotted or occupied sites by September 30.

The directions were reviewed at a coordination meeting chaired by Bhadana at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Keylong, where officials discussed security, traffic management and protocol arrangements for the proposed visit.

Officials were instructed to ensure smooth movement along the proposed VIP route to the Atal Tunnel and implement traffic-control and diversion plans. Officials also reviewed arrangements for accommodation and other facilities for security personnel, medical teams, crowd management, media coverage, and emergency response.

The administration directed departments to prepare alternative arrangements in case of adverse weather or other contingencies. A district control room is to remain operational, while nodal officers will be appointed and rehearsals will be conducted before the programme.

The team also reviewed repair and maintenance work on the national highway near the north portal. The Atal Cafe is being prepared as a green room, while shops in the vicinity are to remain closed during the presidential programme. Unauthorised and unattended vehicles along the VIP route will also be removed.

The administration has asked all departments and agencies to coordinate closely to ensure security and uninterrupted movement during the visit. The proposed programme is part of President Murmu’s scheduled Himachal Pradesh visit, with arrangements also being made in the neighbouring districts.