Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

On Saturday (Oct 3), the strategic and all-weather Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh has inaugurated by India Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Making the former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s dream true and describing the moment as a “historic day” for the entire country, the tunnel is named after him.

The Atal Tunnel facilitates a connection between Manali and the Lahaul-Spiti valley. It reduces distance between Manali and Leh (in the Union Territory of Ladakh) by 46 km and duration of travel to Leh by 4 to 5 hours. Moreover, PM Modi believes that the tunnel will also strengthen border infrastructure of India.

Accompanying PM Modi, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Himachal Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane were also present at the occasion.

The Prime Minister has said in his inauguration speech, “The Atal tunnel will give new strength to India’s border infrastructure. It is an example of world-class border connectivity. There have been demands to improve border infrastructure but, for a long time, such projects either could not get out of the planning stage or got stuck midway.”

“This tunnel is not only important to Himachal, but also because it connects to Ladakh. People who live in the mountains would know the significance of cutting down travel time by 4 or 5 hours,” he further added.

PM Modi also confirmed that the tunnel is 9.02 km long and built to “ultra-modern specifications” at an altitude of 3,000 meters in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas. The tunnel is designed for a daily traffic density of 1,500 trucks and 3,000 cars, each with a maximum speed of 80 km per hour.

Some other interesting things about the Atal Tunnel:

1. The Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had decided to build the tunnel named “Rohtang Tunnel” on June 3, 2000. The foundation stone of the tunnel was laid on May 26, 2002. The Rohtang tunnel was renamed as Atal Tunnel on December 25, 2019 by the Union Cabinet, in the memory of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji.
2. The construction of the tunnel connecting Manali and Leh is the world’s longest highway tunnel over 10,000 feet and has been completed in 10 years.
3. The Atal tunnel project in Rohtang Pass will provide the Indian army with a year-long opportunity to reach the Ladakh region, where the border tensions with China are increasing. During winter, troops in the border areas will no longer need to stock supplies.
4. The tunnel is constructed by the Border Roads Organization. The initial estimate of the tunnel completion was INR 950 crores. However, the project is completed at a cost more than INR 3,200 crores, almost three times the initial value.
5. The South portal (SP) of the tunnel is located 25 km away from Manali and at an altitude of 3,060 meters. The North portal (NP) is located near the Teling village in the Lahaul Valley at an altitude of 3,071 meters.