PM Modi to inaugurate world’s longest Atal tunnel on Saturday

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Atal tunnel in Rohtang, at an altitude of 10,000 feet in Himachal Pradesh on October 3. Atal Tunnel is the longest tunnel in the world, spreading upto 9.02 km and connecting Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley.

The tunnel will connect Lahaul-Spiti valley, the tribal range of Ladakh with the rest of state, through the year. Till now, Ladakh remained inaccessible for 6 months in a year, due to heavy snowfall.

The tunnel has many constructed with ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas. The tunnel will cut down road distance between Manali and Leh by 46 kms and travel time by about 4 to 5 hours.

Tribal People of Lahaul spiti and Pangi face a lot of hardships every year, as the area gets cut off from the rest of landmass during winters.

Local residents are enthusiastic and optimistic about their future with the construction of Atal Tunnel Rohtang . They are full of zest as this tunnel will make their life easier even despite heavy snowfall in the winters.

A resident of Gahar valley in Lahaul region told media persons that many a times residents die due to lack of adequate medical facility and inability to reach good hospitals for proper treatment due to snow laden roads. Most of times, even serious patients could not be airlifted from Lahaul to Kullu-Manali for proper treatment due to bad weather.

With the inauguration of Atal Tunnel erstwhile named Rohtang Tunnel, the dream late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will come true. The tunnel will prove a boon for not only the agriculture, horticulture but will promote tourism in the picturesque locations of Lahaul, Spiti, Pangi and Leh-Ladakh in Himachal.