New Delhi: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh visited the ‘Atal Tunnel, Rohtang’ on Friday (2 October) together with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, and reviewed preparations for the opening performance on 3 October.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang in Himachal Pradesh at 10 am on Saturday. The tunnel, which is the longest road tunnel in the world, will reduce the road distance by 46 kilometers between Manali and Leh and the time by about 4 to 5 hours, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Before leaving Manali, the Defense Minister took to social media and said, “Departing for Manali on a two-day visit to Himachal Pradesh. I will visit @ DRDO_India’s Avalanche and Snow Study establishment, interact with troops and I will review the ‘Atal Tunnel, Rohtang’ preparations today. Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi will inaugurate the ‘Atal Tunnel’ tomorrow. “
Rajnath Singh was received by Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur in Manali. In addition to reviewing the preparations at the ‘Atal Tunnel, Rohtang’ today, the Defense Minister also visited DRDO’s Snow and Avalanche Study establishment during his two-day visit.
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The 9.02 km long Atal Tunnel is the longest road tunnel in the world and connects Manali with the Lahaul-Spiti Valley year-round.
Previously, the valley was isolated for about 6 months each year due to heavy snowfall, but the tunnel, built to ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal mountain range of the Himalayas at an altitude of 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) of mean sea level (MSL ), it will reduce the road distance by 46 Kms between Manali and Leh and the time by approximately five to six hours.
The southern portal (SP) of the Atal tunnel is located at a distance of 25 km from Manali at an altitude of 3,060 meters, while the northern portal (NP) of the tunnel is located near the village of Teling, Sissu, in the valley from Lahaul at an altitude of 3,071 meters.
The tunnel is a horseshoe-shaped tunnel, with a single tube and double lane, with a carriageway of 8 meters, it has an upper free space of 5,525 meters. It is 10.5 meters wide and has a 3.6 x 2.25 meter fire-retardant emergency exit tunnel integrated into the main tunnel itself.
The Atal tunnel has been designed for a traffic density of 3,000 cars per day and 1,500 trucks per day with a maximum speed of 80 km per hour. Among other features, it has a state-of-the-art electromechanical system that includes a semi-transverse ventilation system, fire control system, lighting and SCADA monitoring.
Some of the key security features of the Atal tunnel are:
– Entry barriers in both portals, telephone connections every 150 meters for emergency communication
– Hydrant mechanisms every 60 meters, automatic incident detection system with CCTV cameras every 250 meters
– Air quality control every 1 km, evacuation lighting or exit signs every 25 meters
– Broadcasting system throughout the tunnel, fire resistant gates every 50 meters and also has cameras every 60 meters.
In particular, the decision to build this tunnel under the Rohtang Pass was made on June 3, 2000, when the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister. The first stone of the Access Road to the South Portal of the tunnel was laid on May 26, 2002.
The Border Roads Organization (BRO) worked tirelessly to overcome major geological, terrain and climate challenges that included the most difficult stretch of the 587-meter Seri Nalah fault zone.
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