India: World’s longest highway tunnel opens at Rohtang, Himachal Pradesh

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Atal Tunnel
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of Atal Tunnel, touted as the world’s longest highway tunnel.

(TAN): The spectacular Lahaul-Spiti valley in north India’s Himachal Pradesh state is now accessible to the tourists year-round, even in the harshest of the winters, with the official opening of the Atal Tunnel. The world’s longest highway tunnel connects Lahaul-Spiti to Manali.

The tunnel, which was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 3 at Rohtang, is the world’s longest road tunnel and at an altitude of 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) from the sea level, a government statement said. The tunnel will provide Lahaul valley all-weather connectivity that is expected to significantly boost tourism and winter sports in the valley.

Prior to the construction of the tunnel, Lahaul valley remained closed for nearly six months in a year between November and April. During these months, the Rohtang Pass remains completely under snow. The tunnel in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas reduces the road distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km and travel time by four to five hours.

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The 9.02 km long tunnel, named after the former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is built by the Border Roads Organisation of India. The South Portal of the tunnel is located around 25 km from Manali at an altitude of 3,060 metres, while the North Portal is located near Teling village at Sissu in Lahaul valley at an altitude of 3,071 metres.

The tunnel has been designed for a traffic density of 3,000 cars and 1,500 trucks a day travelling at a maximum speed of 80 kmph.

One Comment

  1. The Indian Drama,is to fool the dumb Indians, and to impress their White Masters. The state of Indians is so pathetic, that they ,in 2020,are still mesmerised, by so-called Infra Projects – which can be blown to bits by the Chinese Precision Guided Ammo – assuming PlLA jets do not bomb it !

    The Indian ADS which shot down their own Chopper in Bugdam – will use Indian ADS to protect their tunnel from Chinese Missiles ? Also ,Indians have no ability to strike similar Chinese Infra , in Tibet – except by sending their Jets, deep into Tibet – which will be shot down, by Chinese PLAF and ADS. In any case, Chinese have many tunnels and many logistics options – while India has ONLY 1 TUNNEL..

    Y have the Indians Built this tunnel ? Each tunnel has an entry and an exit,and an approach and an exit road.In the winters, there would be snow,ice and avalanches, and so,the roads will be unusable or will slow down,the logistics, and in some cases, the roads will be closed down.

    Then,the Tunnel covers less than 15%,of the distance,to the target destination.dindooo hindoo

    Therefore,if the PLA bombs the entry OR the exit of the Tunnel,or the Approach road to OR beyond the tunnel or the 100s of Kms of road, after the tunnel – THE TUNNEL WILL BECOME UNUSABLE ! If the road is bombed then the chances of a landslide, are almost 100% ! And if the approach roads ,to the landslide, are also bombed, no crane will reach the location, and the cranes will have to BE AIRLIFTED ,by specialised Choppers which will take time to organise,and will be sitting ducks, even for MANPADs.

    So Y did the Indians build the tunnel ? To save time ? For what ? In war, Time has the proxy of “Inventory”.If time is a vagary of war, then you carry more inventories (of men ,munitions, spares and food).If a war breaks out,the Tunnel will be destroyed, by the PLA – it cannot be defended, by Indian ADS.

    Also,in matters of military logistics,in a war scenario – COST is NOT a Factor – and in any case,saving a few hours in logistics will NOT yield any material reductions in road freight – but will save the air freighting (by C-130s or Choppers)

    Even if a surge is planned by the Indians – it is best done by air – as time is of the essence. Of course the aircargo will be shotdown – but it is easier to blow up the stationery target,id.est.,The Tunnel,and its matrix of impotence.

    The Chinese say that the Indians took 15 years to make the tunnel. The Chinese must understand that the Hindoo God Rama (whose wife ran away,with Ravana- the King of Lanka),took 12 years to make a bridge of stones, to Lanka – and the bridge was MADE ENTIRELY BT APES.

    EVEN AFTER 5000 YEARS,THERE IS NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE CAPABILITIES OF THE INDIANS.

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