Atal Tunnel - a mark of friendship between Vajpayee and Tashi Dawa

The world's longest tunnel - the Atal tunnel connecting Manali to Leh, due to be inaugurated soon, was a gift by Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to his teenage friend Tashi Dawa, whom he met at a Sangh's training camp held in Vadodara, Gujarat in 1942.

Kullu: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee gave the Rohtang Tunnel as a gift on the demand of his teenage friend Tashi Dawa. What else can be the example of great friendship than this? On the 3rd of October, PM Modi will inaugurate this tunnel.

Senior journalist Dhanesh Gautam says that Tashi Dawa aka Arjun Gopal was a resident of Tholang village in Lahaul. Tashi Dawa and Atal Bihari Vajpayee were active in the RSS together before independence time. The two met in the year 1942 at a Sangh's training camp held in Vadodara, Gujarat. During which the two became close friends. Today, the world's longest road tunnel in Rohtang symbolizes the friendship of these two friends.

The reason for the formation of Rohtang Atal Tunnel is not only the friendship of former Prime Minister and Tashi Dawa but also the result of the hard work of two other people. In this, the names of historian Tsering Dorje and Abhay Chand Rana of Lahaul are also associated.

These two men demanded the tunnel

In 1998, Tashi Dawa, Tshering Dorje and Abhay Chand Rana demanded the construction of the tunnel from the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Neither Atal ji nor Tashi Dawa are in this world now, but the meeting of these two is fresh in 86 years old Tshering Dorje’s mind.

Rohtang tunnel is also known as 'tunnel of friendship'

Social worker Krish Thakur says that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation of this tunnel in the year 2000. This tunnel was a gift of Atal ji's friendship to Tashi Dawa of Lahaul Spiti. Of course, this tunnel is coming into existence today, but it will always be remembered as the friendship of two friends. Local people also call Atal Rohtang Tunnel as 'tunnel of friendship'.

Former Prime Minister's dream going to be fulfilled

Veteran historian Tsering Dorje says that Atal ji said goodbye to the world on the 16th of August, 2018. It is such that he could not release his dream project to the public, but Himachal Pradesh and the country would never forget this. Today the construction of Rohtang tunnel is a dream come true and with the blessings of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, it is going to be accomplished.

Lahaul Ghathi will change appearance

On October 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Atal Rohtang Tunnel. The formation of this tunnel will change the appearance of Lahaul Valley, which is cut off from the world due to snowfall and bad weather for six months in a year. For the Indian Army too, this tunnel will help in reaching the borders that are near China.