PM inaugurates Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the strategically important all-weather Atal Tunnel at Rohtang in Himachal Pradesh on 3 October 2020.

 

The tunnel reduces the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km and the travel time by four to five hours. Atal Tunnel is the longest highway tunnel in the world, and the 9.02 km long tunnel connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year.

 

The tunnel is built with ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas at an altitude of 3.000 mtr (10,000 ft) from the mean sea level (MSL).It is a horseshoe shaped, single-tube double lane tunnel with a roadway of eight mtr and has an overhead clearance of 5.525 mtr.

 

The project was given go-ahead on 3 June 2000, and the foundation stone for the access road to the south portal of the tunnel was laid on 26 May 2002.

 

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had undertaken the project overcoming major geological, terrain and weather challenges that included the most difficult stretch of the 587 mtr Seri Nalah Fault Zone.