Atal Tunnel

Atal Tunnel Rohtang – A Look at the World’s Longest Highway Tunnel

Located in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas, the 8.8 km long Atal Tunnel Rohtang is one of India’s most impressive engineering feats. The tunnel, which was inaugurated in October 2020 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, links Manali in Himachal Pradesh to Lahaul-Spiti Valley throughout the year and provides a new gateway for trade and tourism between India and its neighbouring countries. Let’s take a closer look at this impressive feat of engineering.

Atal Tunnel Rohtang is the world’s longest highway tunnel and has been constructed under the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas at a height of around 10,000 feet. The 8.8 km long tunnel serves as an all-weather route between Manali and Lahaul Spiti Valley, reducing the distance by 46 kilometres that used to be travelled on foot or by mule during winter months due to heavy snowfall in the region. It is located close to Rohtang Pass which was once an important gateway for trade between India and its neighbouring countries like Tibet, China, Nepal and Bhutan.

The construction of Atal Tunnel Rohtang began in 2010 but faced various challenges due to its complicated terrain and harsh weather conditions. The project was completed in October 2020, a decade later than the original estimated deadline. It took almost Rs. 3,200 crore to complete the tunnel along with associated facilities such as fire-fighting systems, ventilation systems, security systems and others.

Atal Tunnel Rohtang is expected to not only provide an easier all-weather route between Manali and Lahaul Spiti Valley but also improve trade prospects between India and its neighbouring countries. Furthermore, it will make travel in this region easier for tourists who can now enjoy a comfortable journey through the world’s longest highway tunnel instead of making hazardous trips across Rohtang Pass during winter months.

Apart from providing easy access to Leh Ladakh and various tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh, the tunnel is also expected to cut down on vehicular pollution as it will reduce traffic jams along the Rohtang Pass route.

The completion of Atal Tunnel Rohtang showcases India’s engineering and technological capabilities on a global scale and serves as an inspiration for other infrastructure projects across the country. It is likely to become a major attraction for tourists from all over the world, who can now experience this amazing feat of engineering first-hand.

The Construction Process

Construction on the Atal Tunnel began in 2010 with an estimated cost of Rs 3,200 crore. A team comprising of 200 workers worked tirelessly for 9 years to complete this project. This included a Herculean effort to drill through 25 million cubic metres of hard rock. To ensure quality control during construction, more than 20 sophisticated machines were used to monitor various parameters like pressure, temperature, ventilation, etc., round-the-clock.

Benefits Of The Atal Tunnel

The Atal Tunnel has several advantages over other routes that connect Manali to Leh or Spiti Valley. For starters, it reduces the travel time between Manali and Leh by nearly 4 hours since it bypasses the Rohtang pass which was otherwise prone to heavy snowfall restricting movement for months each year. Moreover, since it is situated at a lower altitude (3100m) as opposed to 3600m for Rohtang Pass, there are fewer chances of altitude sickness due to reduced oxygen levels. As such it makes travelling through this route much safer and easier as compared to other mountain passes like Kunzum La or Tanglang La that are located even higher up in the mountains. Furthermore, with no restrictions on vehicle movement throughout the year due to snowfall or landslides; tourists can enjoy their road trips without any fear of disruption or delays caused by natural calamities such as avalanches or flash floods that plague other high-altitude roads around this region during certain parts of the year.

The Atal Tunnel Rohtang is an incredible feat of engineering that has revolutionized travel between Manali and Leh/Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh by providing a safe passage even during harsh winter conditions when all other routes get blocked off due to snowfall or landslides. With its reduced altitude and improved safety measures against altitude sickness as well as its shorter travel time; this tunnel has made travelling through this mountainous terrain much easier than ever before. Whether you are looking for an adventure filled vacation through these beautiful mountains or just want to explore what lies beyond them; make sure you check out this amazing tunnel! It will be worth your while!