Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open on Saturday the Atal Tunnel under the Rohtang Pass that connects Manali with the Lahaul-Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, which will be available to travelers throughout the year, unlike before, when the valley he was isolated for about six months out of the year. amid heavy snowfall.
The 9.02 km long tunnel has been built to ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas at an altitude of 3,000 meters above mean sea level. The Atal tunnel, which is the longest highway tunnel in the world, reduces the distance of the highway by 46 km between Manali and Leh and the travel time by approximately four to five hours, according to the statement issued by the Office of the First Minister on Friday.
It is a double-lane, single-tube, horseshoe-shaped tunnel with an 8-meter road and a clearance height of 5,525 meters, the statement added. Designed for a traffic density of 3,000 cars per day and 1,500 trucks per day with a maximum speed of 80 km / h, the tunnel is 10.5 meters wide and a fire-proof emergency exit tunnel of 3.6×2.25 meters in the main tunnel. itself.
Also read: After Rohtang, more high-altitude tunnels will emerge on the Manali-Leh highway
The tunnel has been built with several security measures in mind. Entry barriers at the north and south portals, telephone connections every 150 meters, fire hydrant mechanisms every 60 meters, air quality monitoring, CCTV cameras, evacuation lighting and exit signs every 25 meters and transmission system Throughout the span are some of the key safety features built into the Atal tunnel.
The decision to build the tunnel was made on June 3, 2000, under the prime minister of the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The first stone of the Access Road to the South Portal of the tunnel was laid on May 26, 2002, the PMO said. However, in 2019, the Union Cabinet under the presidency of Prime Minister Modi resolved to name the Rohtang Tunnel as Atal Tunnel in honor of the former prime minister.
After attending the grand opening function at South Portal, Manali, Modi will participate in public functions at Sissu in Lahaul Spiti and in Solang Valley, PMO said.
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