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PM Modi inaugurates the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang

By Tanvi Bhamare
PM Modi inaugurates the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang
Atal Tunnel, Rohtang Map - world's longest highway tunnel.The tunnel connects Manali and Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year, reduces road distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km. Picture Credits : PIB in Maharashtra / Twitter
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Key Points : 

  • The Atal Tunnel  is a horse shoe shaped, single tube double lane tunnel with a roadway of 8 metres. It has an overhead clearance of 5.525 metres. It is 10.5-metre wide and has a 3.6 x 2.25 metres fire proof emergency egress tunnel built into the main tunnel itself.
  • Many safety checks including cameras at every 60 mtrs and fire rated Dampers at 50 Mtrs are present.
  • Talking about the strategic significance of the newly-built tunnel, PM Modi said, “Atal tunnel will give new strength to India’s border infrastructure. It is an example of world-class border connectivity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday 3rd October inaugurated the much-awaited Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, Himachal Pradesh. After attending the inauguration function, the Prime Minister will be taking part in public functions at Sissu in Lahaul Spiti and at Solang Valley.Yesterday as of 2nd October, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reached Manali, Himachal Pradesh to review preparations of Atal Tunnel’s inauguration.

 

Atal tunnel, being the highest altitude tunnel globally, will decrease the road distance between Manali and Leh, and the time for about four to five hours. The 9-km long tunnel will reduce travel time to key border areas for the security forces and remain open throughout the year this having great strategic significance.Taking a jibe at previous UPA govts, the prime minister said, “Atal Ji laid the foundation stone of approach road of this tunnel in 2002. Till 2013-2014, progress was made only on 1,300 meters of this tunnel. After 2014, the project progressed with unprecedented pace.”

 

“Emphasis has been put on the development of border infrastructure. Its benefits are being extended to the common people as well as our armed forces personnel. There is nothing more important for us than protecting the country. But the country has also seen that – a period when the defence interests of the country were compromised,” said PM Modi in Rohtang.

Prime Minister asserted that connectivity has a direct relation with development and connectivity in border areas is directly related to security issues.

Talking about the strategic significance of the newly-built tunnel, PM Modi said, “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 couldn’t get out of planning stage or got stuck midway.”

“Many other vital projects were treated in the same way as Atal tunnel. The strategically important Daulat Beg Oldi airstrip in Ladakh remained closed for 40–45 years. I don’t want to go into details as to what was the helplessness and the pressure behind it,” he added.

JP Nadda took it to his Twitter account too saying –

While talking at a public gathering at Atal Tunnel, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dedicated the tunnel to the people of the country as well as the soldiers who guard the Indian borders. “Border Roads Organisation completed construction of Atal Tunnel within its estimated cost of construction. This tunnel is dedicated to the soldiers guarding our borders and those living near border areas,” said Singh.

 

PM Modi said, “Today, a dream of not only Atal ji but also of crores of Himachal Pradesh people has come true. This tunnel will reduce the travel time between Manali and Keylong by 3-4 hours. My brothers and sisters who live in the mountains know the importance of 3-4 hours in travel time.”After construction of this tunnel at the height of 10,040 feet, Himachal Pradesh, a small state, has got recognition not only in the nation but in the whole world. There is no other tunnel of this length at this height.” 

Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur said, 

Talking about the Atal Tunnel, it is a horse shoe shaped, single tube double lane tunnel with a roadway of 8 metres. It has an overhead clearance of 5.525 metres. It is 10.5-metre wide and has a 3.6 x 2.25 metres fire proof emergency egress tunnel built into the main tunnel itself.Atal Tunnel has been designed for traffic density of 3000 cars per day and 1500 trucks per day with a max speed of 80 km/hr. 

Atal Tunnel is the longest highway tunnel in the World. The 9.02-km long tunnel connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year. Earlier the valley was cut off for about 6 months each year owing to heavy snowfall. The tunnel is built with ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas at an altitude of 3000 Mtrs (10,000 Feet) from the Mean Sea Level (MSL). 

Ahead of the tunnel’s inauguration, KP Purushothaman, Chief Engineer, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) said the hard work by the organisation in these many years has paid off and it is a very “proud moment” for everyone.”This is a very proud moment not only for BRO but for the whole country. The hard work put in by BRO in the last 10 years is reaching the final stage. This tunnel is an example of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” Purushothaman said.

The safety checks of the tunnel include:

  • Tunnel entry barriers at both portals.
  • Telephone connections at every 150 Mtrs for emergency communication.
  • Air quality monitoring at every 1 Km.
  • Auto incident detection system with CCTV cameras at every 250 Mtrs.
  • Fire hydrant mechanisms at every 60 Mtrs.
  • Cameras at every 60 Mtrs.
  • Broadcasting system throughout the tunnel.
  • Evacuation lighting / exit signs at every 25 Mtrs.
  • Fire rated Dampers at every 50 Mtrs.

Tanvi Bhamare

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