.jpg) Atal Tunnel during winter | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Location | Himachal Pradesh, India |
| Coordinates | 32°24′05″N 77°08′54″E / 32.401270°N 77.148335°E |
| Status | Active |
| Route |  NH 3 |
| Crosses | Rohtang Pass |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | May 2010 |
| Opened | 4 October 2020 |
| Operator | Border Roads Organisation |
| Traffic | Automotive |
| Technical | |
| Length | 9.02 kilometres (5.60 mi) |
| No. of lanes | Two (one in each direction) |
| Operating speed | 40–60 km/h (25–37 mph) |
| Width | 10 metres (33 ft) |
| marvels | |
Atal Tunnel (also known as Rohtang Tunnel)[1] is a highway tunnel built under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas on the National Highway 3 in Himachal Pradesh, India.[1][2] At a length of 9.02 km, it is the highest highway single-tube tunnel above 10,000 feet (3,048 m) in the world.[3][4][5] With the existing Atal Tunnel and after the completion of under-construction Shinku La Tunnel, which is targeted to be completed by 2025, the new Leh-Manali Highway via Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road will become all-weather road.[6][7] It is named after former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The tunnel reduces the travel time and overall distance between Manali and Keylong on the way to Leh. The route, which previously went through Gramphu, was 116 km (72.1 mi) long and took 5 to 6 hours in good conditions. A traveller now reaches the South Portal of the tunnel from Manali, a distance of 24.4 km (15.2 mi) in about 45 minutes, goes through the 9.02 km (5.6 mi) long tunnel in about 15 minutes, and reaches Keylong which is 37 km (23.0 mi) away in about 60 minutes. The new route via the tunnel brings down the total distance travelled to 71 km (44.1 mi) which can be covered in about 2 hours, a reduction of around 3 to 4 hours when compared to the earlier route. Moreover, the tunnel bypasses most of the sites that were prone to road blockades, avalanches, and traffic snarls.[8][9]
The tunnel is at an elevation of 3,100 metres (10,171 ft) whereas the Rohtang Pass is at an elevation of 3,978 metres (13,051 ft). It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3 October 2020. The cost of the entire project is ₹3,200 crore (US$438 million).[10] The tunnel was completed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Ministry of Defence. The tunnel can be visited by citizens and students of the nation. It will also boost tourism in Himachal.
- ^ a b "Atal Tunnel renamed as 'Atal Tunnel, Rohtang'". The Times of India. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "9-km-long Atal Tunnel an engineering marvel". Indian Defense News, Indian Armed Forces, IDRW, Defence. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ "Atal Tunnel Certified By World Book Of Records As Longest Highway Tunnel". NDTV India.
- ^ "Atal Tunnel makes it to World Book of Records". Tribune India.
- ^ "Atal Tunnel: How world's longest tunnel above 10,000 feet at Rohtang pass will make use of automation solutions". 1 October 2020.
- ^ Defence ministry clears the BRO tunnel under Shinkun La in Ladakh, Hindustan Times, 19 May 2021.
- ^ "Govt pushes hard to complete 1st all-weather route to Ladakh". Hindustan Times. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "Importance of Rohtang Tunnel for Lahaul & Pangi resident". The News Himachal. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ "Explained: What is the strategic importance of Atal Tunnel at Rohtang?". The Indian Express. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ "World's longest highway tunnel opened in Himachal Pradesh". The Hindu. 3 October 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 October 2020.