Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the strategically important all weather Atal Tunnel under the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh on the Manali Leh Highway on October 3.
A tunnel with many firsts, it connects Manali to the Lathan Spiti Valley throughout the year Earlier the Lahau-Spiti Valley remained cut off from the rest of the country for six months every year during the winter owing to heavy snowfall obstructing the Rohtang Pass At 9.02 km long, the Atal Tunnel situated at an altitude of 10,040 ft. is the longest highway tunnel in the world. It took 10 years for the Border Roads Organisation to build the horseshoe shaped, single-tube double-lane tunnel, 10.5 metres wide with an Overhead clearance of over 5 metres. The tunnel was excavated using drill and blast technique. It is said that the BRO had to overcome many major geological terrain and weather challenges during the construction of the tunnel.
Distance reduced
The tunnel, built at a cost of Rs 3,200 crore, has been designed for a daily traffic of 3,000 cars and 1,500 trucks at a maximum speed of 80 kmph. Cutting through the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas, the tunnel is set to reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km. (The distance from Manali to Leh via Atal Tunnel is 428 km and via Rohtang Pass is 474 km)
The tunnel provides an alternative route to limping through the Rohtang Pass which is located at an altitude of over 13,000 ft. The distance which nunnally takes four to five hours to cover can now be covered under an hour.
The tunnel has many safety features built into it. Besides an emergency tunnel within the main tunnel, it has telephone connections, fire hydrant mechanisms, CCTV cameras, air quality monitoring systems and tunnel entry barriers installed.
Strategic significance
The tunnel is of strategic importance during the ongoing stand-off with China as it will provide all weather connectivity to troops stationed in Ladakh, making deployment and movement of weapons and ration easier.
It is also expected to give a boost to tourism in the area A good road network will improve the inflow of tourists and create job opportunities It will give residents of the Lahaul Valley and Ladakh access to better healthcare and supplies.
Vajpayee’s contribution
The decision to build the strategic tunnel under the Rohtang Pass was taken in June 2000 dunng Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister. The tunnel was planned to ensure all-weather road connectivity to strategically important areas of Ladakh and the remote Lahaul Spiti Valley. The foundation stone for the approach road to the tunnel was laid in 2002. But with the subsequent change in government the project was almost forgotten. The Union Cabinet named it the Atal Tunnel in 2019 in honour of the former PM.
Picture Credit : Google
