Guv: Atal Tunnel will take tourism to new heights
Tribune News Service
Mandi, November 10
Governor Bandaru Dattatreya said that the Atal Tunnel would take tourism of the Rohtang region to new heights. He reached Atal Tunnel on the second day of his two-day visit to Kullu and Lahaul- Spiti districts.
The Governor enjoyed skiing near north portal of Atal tunnel at Sissu in tribal district Lahaul Spiti.
The Governor stated that the engineering of tunnel was unparalleled. It was the longest tunnel in the world at a height of more than 10,000 feet. He congratulated the officials and engineers of Border Roads Organization for construction of this state-of-the-art tunnel, which, he said, was a remarkable achievement.
He said that Atal Tunnel had telephone connection at every 150 m for emergency communication, fire hydrant mechanism at every 60 m, auto incident detection system with CCTV cameras at every 250 m, air quality monitoring at every one km, lighting/exit signs at every 25 m, broadcasting system throughout the tunnel and cameras at every 60 m.
The Governor said that there would be unexpected change for better in the lives of the people of tribal areas and this tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to the people of tribal district Lahaul-Spiti and Pangi region in Chamba district.
He said that earlier Lahaul Spiti remained cut off from the rest of the world for nearly six months in winter due to heavy snowfall at 13,050 feet high Rohtang Pass, the gateway to Lahaul on the Manali-Leh highway. “The opening of the Atal tunnel for traffic and increase in tourism activities in the region would generate employment opportunities for the local youth,” he added.
The Governor said that the geographical conditions on both sides of this tunnel connecting two districts were entirely different. On entering the Lahaul Spiti at the north portal, one gets a wonderful view of nature. He said that such a rare scene is hardly available anywhere else in the world.
The Governor interacted with the Border Roads Organization officials at the south portal of Atal Tunnel and got information about the tunnel. Earlier, the Governor paid obeisance at Hidimba Devi Temple in Manali. He said that efforts should be made to beautify the temple complex.
