Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels from the South Portal of the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang to the North Portal of the tunnel located in Sissu, Lahaul Valley.
PM Modi inaugurates strategic Atal Tunnel at Rohtang
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
11:52 October 03
11:43 October 03
I request the Ministry of Education that the students of engineering & technical studies related universities should be given a chance to do a case study of Atal Tunnel. The students must learn how this tunnel was built: PM Modi at the inauguration of Atal Tunnel, Rohtang
11:39 October 03
Many other important 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: PM Narendra Modi
11:35 October 03
There is nothing more important for us than protecting the country. But the country has also seen that a period when the defense interests of the country were compromised: PM Modi at Rohtang
11:35 October 03
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: PM Modi at Rohtang, Himachal Pradesh
11:35 October 03
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: PM Narendra Modi
11:25 October 03
"Connectivity has a direct connection with development. Connectivity in border areas is directly related to security issues," said PM Modi at the inauguration of Atal Tunnel.
11:24 October 03
"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 the planning stage or got stuck midway," PM Modi said.
11:22 October 03
Historic day; not only dream of Atal ji realised but also decades-long wait of people of Himachal is over, says PM Modi
10:24 October 03
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, which is the highest altitude tunnel in the world and has strategic significance.
09:21 October 03
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Manali for the inauguration of Atal Tunnel, the longest highway tunnel in the world built at an altitude of 3000 meters
08:26 October 03
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Chandigarh International Airport. He will inaugurate Atal Tunnel at Rohtang in Himachal Pradesh at 10 am today.
06:10 October 03
PM Modi inaugurates Atal Tunnel
Manali: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday inaugurate Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, which is the highest altitude tunnel in the world and has strategic significance.
The 9.02 km long tunnel will connect Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year. Earlier the road remained impacted for about six months every year owing to snowfall.
The tunnel is built with ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas at an altitude of 3000 metres (10,000 feet) from the Mean Sea Level (MSL).
It reduces the road distance by 46 km between Manali and Leh and the time by about four to five hours.
KP Purushothaman, Chief Engineer, Border Roads Organisation said the hard work by BRO in these many years has paid off and it is a very proud moment for everyone.
"This is very proud moment not only for BRO but 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 told media.
The South Portal (SP) of Atal Tunnel is located at a distance of 25 km from Manali at an altitude of 3,060 metres, while the North Portal (NP) of the tunnel is located near village Teling, Sissu, in Lahaul Valley at an altitude of 3,071 Metres.
It is horseshoe-shaped, single tube double lane tunnel with a roadway of 8 metres. It has an overhead clearance of 5.525 metres.
Also, 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.
"There are 18 egress tunnels where after every 500 metres there is an opening in case of emergency. If any fire incident happens so first thing is how the people trapped are to be rescued. For that there is an entry at every 500 metres. The tunnels are clearly marked and one can easily find out where is the egress tunnel," Purushothaman said.
Atal Tunnel has been designed for traffic density of 3000 cars per day and 1,500 trucks per day with max speed of 80 km/hr. It has the state of the art electromechanical system including semi transverse ventilation system.
The tunnel has ample safety features built into it including telephone connections at every 150 metres for emergency communication, fire hydrant mechanisms at every 60 Metres, auto incident detection system with CCTV cameras at every 250 metres, air quality monitoring at every one Km, evacuation lighting/exit signs and broadcasting system throughout the tunnel among others.
Speaking to ANI, S Paramasivan, Managing Director, AFCONS, which was the main construction company for the tunnel, said it is of very great importance both from the national defence angle and also from the international arena because this is the longest tunnel at this altitude in the world.
The historic decision to construct a strategic tunnel below the Rohtang Pass was taken on June 3, 2000 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister.
The foundation stone for the access road to the south portal of the tunnel was laid on May 26, 2002.
Officials said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) worked relentlessly to overcome major geological, terrain and weather challenges that included the most difficult stretch of the 587-metre Seri Nalah Fault Zone. The breakthrough from both ends was achieved on October 15, 2017.
The Union Cabinet decided in 2019 to name the Rohtang Tunnel as Atal Tunnel to honour the contribution made by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
After attending the inauguration function of the Atal Tunnel at South Portal, Manali, the Prime Minister will be participating in public functions at Sissu in Lahaul Spiti and at Solang Valley.
BJP national president JP Nadda will not be attending the inaugural ceremony of the 'Atal Tunnel' as he has to hold meetings scheduled to discuss the upcoming Bihar elections 2020.
11:52 October 03
Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels from the South Portal of the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang to the North Portal of the tunnel located in Sissu, Lahaul Valley.
11:43 October 03
I request the Ministry of Education that the students of engineering & technical studies related universities should be given a chance to do a case study of Atal Tunnel. The students must learn how this tunnel was built: PM Modi at the inauguration of Atal Tunnel, Rohtang
11:39 October 03
Many other important 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: PM Narendra Modi
11:35 October 03
There is nothing more important for us than protecting the country. But the country has also seen that a period when the defense interests of the country were compromised: PM Modi at Rohtang
11:35 October 03
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: PM Modi at Rohtang, Himachal Pradesh
11:35 October 03
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: PM Narendra Modi
11:25 October 03
"Connectivity has a direct connection with development. Connectivity in border areas is directly related to security issues," said PM Modi at the inauguration of Atal Tunnel.
11:24 October 03
"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 the planning stage or got stuck midway," PM Modi said.
11:22 October 03
Historic day; not only dream of Atal ji realised but also decades-long wait of people of Himachal is over, says PM Modi
10:24 October 03
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, which is the highest altitude tunnel in the world and has strategic significance.
09:21 October 03
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Manali for the inauguration of Atal Tunnel, the longest highway tunnel in the world built at an altitude of 3000 meters
08:26 October 03
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Chandigarh International Airport. He will inaugurate Atal Tunnel at Rohtang in Himachal Pradesh at 10 am today.
06:10 October 03
PM Modi inaugurates Atal Tunnel
Manali: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday inaugurate Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, which is the highest altitude tunnel in the world and has strategic significance.
The 9.02 km long tunnel will connect Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year. Earlier the road remained impacted for about six months every year owing to snowfall.
The tunnel is built with ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas at an altitude of 3000 metres (10,000 feet) from the Mean Sea Level (MSL).
It reduces the road distance by 46 km between Manali and Leh and the time by about four to five hours.
KP Purushothaman, Chief Engineer, Border Roads Organisation said the hard work by BRO in these many years has paid off and it is a very proud moment for everyone.
"This is very proud moment not only for BRO but 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 told media.
The South Portal (SP) of Atal Tunnel is located at a distance of 25 km from Manali at an altitude of 3,060 metres, while the North Portal (NP) of the tunnel is located near village Teling, Sissu, in Lahaul Valley at an altitude of 3,071 Metres.
It is horseshoe-shaped, single tube double lane tunnel with a roadway of 8 metres. It has an overhead clearance of 5.525 metres.
Also, 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.
"There are 18 egress tunnels where after every 500 metres there is an opening in case of emergency. If any fire incident happens so first thing is how the people trapped are to be rescued. For that there is an entry at every 500 metres. The tunnels are clearly marked and one can easily find out where is the egress tunnel," Purushothaman said.
Atal Tunnel has been designed for traffic density of 3000 cars per day and 1,500 trucks per day with max speed of 80 km/hr. It has the state of the art electromechanical system including semi transverse ventilation system.
The tunnel has ample safety features built into it including telephone connections at every 150 metres for emergency communication, fire hydrant mechanisms at every 60 Metres, auto incident detection system with CCTV cameras at every 250 metres, air quality monitoring at every one Km, evacuation lighting/exit signs and broadcasting system throughout the tunnel among others.
Speaking to ANI, S Paramasivan, Managing Director, AFCONS, which was the main construction company for the tunnel, said it is of very great importance both from the national defence angle and also from the international arena because this is the longest tunnel at this altitude in the world.
The historic decision to construct a strategic tunnel below the Rohtang Pass was taken on June 3, 2000 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister.
The foundation stone for the access road to the south portal of the tunnel was laid on May 26, 2002.
Officials said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) worked relentlessly to overcome major geological, terrain and weather challenges that included the most difficult stretch of the 587-metre Seri Nalah Fault Zone. The breakthrough from both ends was achieved on October 15, 2017.
The Union Cabinet decided in 2019 to name the Rohtang Tunnel as Atal Tunnel to honour the contribution made by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
After attending the inauguration function of the Atal Tunnel at South Portal, Manali, the Prime Minister will be participating in public functions at Sissu in Lahaul Spiti and at Solang Valley.
BJP national president JP Nadda will not be attending the inaugural ceremony of the 'Atal Tunnel' as he has to hold meetings scheduled to discuss the upcoming Bihar elections 2020.
Last Updated : Oct 3, 2020, 12:02 PM IST
