India's strategic Atal Tunnel on the Leh-Manali highway is all set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2020-10-03. The ceremony will also be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief Of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General M M Naravane.
The strategic tunnel - which is the world's longest tunnel situated at over 10,000 feet reduces the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km.
The 8.8 km long horseshoe shaped tunnel is situated under the 3,978 metre Rohtang Pass in the Pir Panjal range. It is in the Solang Valley near Manali.
The Atal Tunnel would be a boon to the residents of Lahaul who remain cut off from the rest of the country for nearly six months in winters due to heavy snowfall.
The ambitious Atal Tunnel would provide all-weather connectivity to Leh and the forward areas of Ladakh.
For all-weather connectivity up to Leh-Ladakh, additional tunnels would have to be built on the 475 km Manali-Leh route so that the high passes do not impede movement due to heavy snowfall.
A 13.2 km long tunnel would have to be built to negotiate the 16,040 feet high Baralacha Pass and another 14.78 km long tunnel would be required at the Lachung La Pass at 16,800 feet and the third 7.32 km long tunnel would be required at Tanglang La Pass at 17,480 feet.
The 8.8 km long horseshoe shaped tunnel is situated under the 3,978 metre Rohtang Pass in the Pir Panjal range. It is in the Solang Valley near Manali.
The Atal Tunnel would be a boon to the residents of Lahaul who remain cut off from the rest of the country for nearly six months in winters due to heavy snowfall.
The ambitious Atal Tunnel would provide all-weather connectivity to Leh and the forward areas of Ladakh.
For all-weather connectivity up to Leh-Ladakh, additional tunnels would have to be built on the 475 km Manali-Leh route so that the high passes do not impede movement due to heavy snowfall.
A 13.2 km long tunnel would have to be built to negotiate the 16,040 feet high Baralacha Pass and another 14.78 km long tunnel would be required at the Lachung La Pass at 16,800 feet and the third 7.32 km long tunnel would be required at Tanglang La Pass at 17,480 feet.
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Photo courtesy: Nitin A Gokhale, Defence Journalist.
Text courtesy: Swarajyamag.com dated 2020-09-28.
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