Atal Tunnel ready, awaits opening by PM

Our Correspondent
Kullu, September 16

The strategically-important 9.02-km Atal Tunnel at Rohtang has been completed at a cost of Rs 3,200 crore. Anil Kumar, Additional Director General, Border Roads Organisation (North-West), visited the tunnel yesterday night to have a look at the lighting system there. He checked the functionality of various systems of the tunnel. He was accompanied by BRO Joint Director Pankaj Sarswat. He took stock of the technical details and the progress of the finishing touches being given to the tunnel.

The tunnel will reduce the length of the 479-km Manali-Leh national highway by 46 km and reduce the travel time by two hours. It will also be a boon to people of the Lahaul valley, who remain cut-off from the rest of the state for five to six months due to heavy snowfall at the 13,058-feet high Rohtang Pass. The tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between Manali and Lahaul.

Marred by delays caused by geological surprises such as the Seri Nala water ingress and loose rocks, the cost of the tunnel project has shot up twice from an estimated amount of Rs 1,600 crore in 2008.

The deadline for the completion were revised thrice. At present, the budget for the tunnel is estimated at Rs 4,000 crore, but Rs 800 crore has been saved due to the efficient strategic changes made by the engineers.