Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open the Atal Tunnel, the world’s longest underground highway, on October 3. After attending the Atal Tunnel opening performance at 10 am in Manali, PM Modi will participate in two public functions at Sissu in Lahaul Spiti and in Solang Valley.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Atal Tunnel, the longest road tunnel in the world connecting Manali to Leh:
1) The 9.02 km long tunnel will now connect Manali to the Lahaul-Spiti Valley year-round. Previously, the valley was isolated for about 6 months out of the year due to heavy snowfall.
2) The Atal tunnel is built to ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas at an altitude of 3000 mtr (10,000 ft) from mean sea level (MSL).
3) The Atal Tunnel will reduce the road distance by 46 km between Manali and Leh and the time by approximately 4 to 5 hours.
4) It is a tunnel with a road of 8 mtr. It has a free height of 5,525 mtr.
5) It is 10.5 meters wide and has a 3.6 x 2.25 m fireproof emergency exit tunnel built into the main tunnel itself.
6) The Atal tunnel has been designed for a traffic density of 3000 cars per day and 1500 trucks per day with a maximum speed of 80 km / h.
7) It has a state-of-the-art electromechanical system that includes a semi-transverse ventilation system, a fire control system, lighting and SCADA monitoring.
8) The Atal tunnel has been completed in a span of 10 years.
9) The horseshoe shaped double lane single tube tunnel has many novelties.
10) The Atal tunnel will not only be strategically important, but it will also boost tourism in Lahaul-Spiti, creating job opportunities.
Some of the key safety features of the Atal tunnel are
-Entrance barriers to tunnels in both portals.
-Telephone connections every 150 mtr for emergency communication.
-Hydrating mechanisms every 60 mtr
-Automatic incident detection system with CCTV cameras every 250 mtr
-Air quality monitoring every 1 km.
– Evacuation lights / exit signs every 25 mtr.
-Broadcasting system throughout the tunnel.
-Fire dampers every 50 mtr.
-Cameras every 60 mtr.
The historic decision to build a strategic tunnel under the Rohtang Pass was made on June 3, 2000 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister. The Union Cabinet met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 24, 2019 and decided to name the Rohtang Tunnel Atal Tunnel to honor the contribution made by former Prime Minister Vajpayee.
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