Rohtang, India’s most strategically important Atal Tunnel connecting Manali and Lahaul Spiti in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh and built with state-of-the-art technology has been named in the World Book of Records. At an altitude of 10,044 feet above sea level, the Atal Tunnel has been officially honored by the World Book of Records as the longest transport tunnel in the world. The length of this tunnel is 9.02 km. The award was accepted by the Director General, Border Roads Organization (BRO) Lt Gen Rajeev Choudhary. The tunnel has been constructed by the BRO over a period of about 10 years, penetrating the Pir Panjal peaks in the Himalayas. Indian and Austrian companies Straubeg and Afcon also collaborated in the construction of the tunnel.
Atal Tunnel has been officially certified by World Book of Records as ‘World’s Longest Highway Tunnel above 10,000 Feet’. Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry, Director General of Border Roads Organization (BRO) received the award for achievement of BRO for constructing this: Defense Ministry pic.twitter.com/UfTjyqKwk6
— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2022
Let us tell you that the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had announced the construction of a tunnel in the year 2002 at Keylong, the headquarters of the tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti. The cost of the tunnel at that time was estimated to be around Rs 1,500 crore. But the construction of the tunnel cost Rs 3,600 crore. After the construction of the Atal Tunnel, the distance from Manali to Leh near the Chinese border was reduced to about 45 km. At the same time, the travel time on this route has been reduced by at least 5 hours. At the same time, the tribal area Lahaul, which remains closed due to snowfall during the winter season, has been connected to the country for 12 months. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Atal Tunnel Rohtang on October 3, 2020. Since then, Atal Tunnel has become the first choice of tourists across the country.
Atal Tunnel is the only tunnel in the world to provide 4G connectivity. Every 500 meters in the tunnel there is an emergency tunnel that runs through both ends of the tunnel. Emergency 4G phones are available every 150 metres. There is CCTV every 60 metres. Atal Tunnel is the control room of the entire tunnel at both ends of Rohtang and all can be monitored from there.