Atal Tunnel is a highway tunnel built under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas on the Leh-Manali Highway in Himachal Pradesh, India. Its construction started on 28 June 2010 and completed on 03 October 2020. The construction cost of the Atal Tunnel is ₹3200 crores. It Operator by Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
More Facts About Atal Tunnel
The tunnel reduced the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km (28.6 mi) and reduced the travel time by 4 to 5 hours without any threat of road blockade or avalanche.
The tunnel is at an elevation of 10,171 ft (3,100 meters) whereas the Rohtang Pass is at an elevation of 13,051 ft (3,978 meters).
It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3 October 2020.
Atal Tunnel construction cost is ₹3200 crores.
Timeline
Date
Announcement
June 03, 2000
Project announced by Atal Bihari Vajpayee (P.M.)
June 28, 2010
Foundation stone laid by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
June 2012
3.5 km of the tunnel digging completed
October 2013
30 m portion of the roof of the tunnel collapsed
December 2016
7.6 km of the tunnel digging had been completed
13 October 2017
Both ends of the tunnel met
22 November 2017
Ambulance Service allowed under-construction
Jan 2019
90% work completed
Nov 2019
Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus carrying 44 passengers
Dec 2019
The name change from Rohtang Tunnel to Atal Tunnel.
Sept 2020
100% completion of the project
Oct 2020
Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Specifications
The length of the Tunnel is 9.02 km (5.6 mi).
The shape of the Tunnel is Horseshoe type.
The finished width is 10.00 m (32.8 ft) at the road level with 8m pavement and 1m footpath on both sides.
Designated vehicular speed: 80 km/h (50 mph).
Tunnel boring machines will not be used because of the inability to see inside the mountain, instead of blasting and digging will be used to build the tunnel.
Temperature variation in the area: 25–30 °C during May–June and −30 to −20 °C during Dec–Jan.
Construction technique proposed: Drill & Blast with NATM.
Tunnel ventilation: Semi-transverse system of ventilation has been proposed.
A 2.25 m high and 3.6 m wide emergency tunnel will be integrated into the tunnel cross-section beneath the main carriageway.
