Atal tunnel, previously known as Rohtang tunnel, named after Indias Ex PM late Shri Atal Bihari vajpayee will be inaugurated by the PM Narendra Modi by the last week of September 2020.
The tunnel will be one of the longest road tunnel in India.This 8.8 Km length road tunnel is expected to reduce the distance between Manali and kelong by 46 kilometre. The tunnel is at elevation of about 10,000 feet. The total cost of the project is valued around 3200 crore.The project is deliberately constructed under the Rohtang pass in the Eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas.
This tunnel will eradicate many of the transport hurdles as it will keep the highway open even during the winter and is expected to save crores of rupees in the transport cost.
As stated by the BRO official ,the construction had a lot of strategic importance as it included installation of electromechanic fittings,lighting intelligent traffic control system, ventilation etc. The design for the structure is been provided by the Snow and Avalanche study establishment of DRDO. Mr Jairam thakur ,CM of Himachal Pradesh, quoted in PTI report stating that the tunnel will give all weather connectivity to the border and remote areas of the state. As Himachal Pradesh is surrounded by the state of Kashmir to North and by the Tibet, autonomous region of China, to the east the state government of Himachal Pradesh is also cooperating with the Indo Tibetan border police (ITBP)to develop helipads in the areas bordering the neighbouring country China. Another major Infra project, 100 metre long steel superstructure bridge across Chandra River on Rohtang tunnel North portal is also on the track of development.
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