New Delhi, August 26: A 9-km-long strategic’ Atal tunnel’ built near the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh is now ready for inauguration.
At the start of construction, it was designed as an 8.8 km long tunnel but when GPS readings were taken at the completion of construction, the tunnel was 9 km long. It will be the first tunnel in the world in height because it has been built at an altitude of about 10 thousand feet.
As soon as the tunnel starts, the distance between Manali and Leh will be reduced by 46 kilometers. This tunnel is also important because it will increase India’s strength on the Pakistan-China border.
Features of Atal Tunnel
It also includes an emergency escape tunnel built beneath the main tunnel. This will provide an emergency exit in case of any untoward incident, which may make the main tunnel unusable. A telephone every 150 meters in the tunnel, fire hydrant every 60 meters, emergency exit every 500 meters, cave every 2.2 km, air quality monitoring system every one km, broadcasting system with CCTV cameras every 250 meters and automatic detection system is installed.
Vehicles will be able to run at the maximum speed 80 km per hour and 5000 vehicles will be able to pass through it every day. The tunnel will be all-weather friendly for the areas ahead of Leh and Ladakh.
In fact, during snowfall, this area is cut off from the rest of the country for about six months from April to November. This tunnel will easily reach the Pakistan and China border as well during the snowy days because The Leh-Manali highway is bordered by both countries. In such a situation, India’s hold in the strategic area of ​​Ladakh will be further strengthened, so the commencement of this tunnel will enable safe movement of military vehicles to the Ladakh border and there will be no problem in providing logistics to the troops.
Similarly, this tunnel will increase the vigilance, promptness and strength of the forward posts along the Indian border.
Snow galleries were also built on the access road to the tunnel
The Border Roads Organization (BRO) under the Ministry of Defense has successfully carried out this difficult task as per its identity.
The Director General of BRO, Lt Gen Harpal Singh, after visiting the tunnel on August 21 told that all the construction works are almost complete. During the tunnel construction, there is a lot of dust inside as a residue. Minor works like this dirt are being cleaned, which will be completed in about 15 days. Bridges towards Lahaul Spiti to the north of the tunnel and to the southern end have also been completed.
“Snow galleries have also been built on the access road to the tunnel from Manali to ensure all weather connectivity. The opening of Rohtang Tunnel will make the journey from Delhi to Leh-Ladakh and Himachal’s Lahaul-Spiti valley easy. This tunnel has been built with modern technology. In the same way, there are many more,” added DG BRO.
Manali-Leh distance will be 46 km less
This tunnel, built in the Pir Panj mountain range of the Himalayas, is at an altitude of 10,000 feet above the ground. This tunnel will reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 kilometers. It will also be an alternative route to reach the Rohtang Pass which is situated at an altitude of 13 thousand 50 ft.
The journey from Manali Valley to Lahaul and Spiti Valley is usually five hours which takes more than 10 minutes which will now be completed in less than 10 minutes.
However, construction of this tunnel started in 2010 which was to be completed by 2019 but due to Covid-19 pandemic, non-availability of labour and material, there has been a slight delay in completion of the project but now it is ready for inauguration. About 3,000 contract workers and 650 regular employees worked 24 hours in shifts to make it.
However, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had earlier said that this tunnel would be dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister by the end of September this year. The final date for the inauguration of this tunnel is not yet fixed, but the date of inauguration can be fixed anytime after September 25 after the rain stops.
