19 Lesser-Known Facts About Atal Tunnel That Connects Rohtang To Leh

The majestic and strategic Atal Tunnel is now open to civilians. The tunnel has been named in order to honor late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which connects Rohtang to Leh.

The civil work for the Atal tunnel project began almost a decade ago however, the name was given to it by the Central government as a tribute to the late politician. Atal Tunnel is also known World’s Longest Motorable Road at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet (Atal Tunnel height) above sea level.

The Atal Tunnel length is 8.8 kilometers and cuts through the Pir Panjal range in the Lesser Himalayan region. It ensures all-weather connectivity between Manali and Leh. Now, the distance between Manali and Leh is reduced by almost 46 kilometers.

Brigadier KP Purushothaman, Chief Engineer, BRO’s Rohtang tunnel told a leading Indian media during an interview explaining how the tunnel was built under unprecedented conditions and difficult circumstances. He said,

“This Atal Rohtang Tunnel is built at a 10,000 feet altitude and is connected to Rohtang Pass. It is also 10 meters wide. Now the distance from Manali to Leh is reduced by 46 kilometers”

Previously, it took 5 hours to cross Rohtang Pass, however, now that Atal Tunnel is operational, it will take a little over 10 minutes to reach Leh. Isn’t that amazing?

The Atal tunnel is a single tube tunnel that is horseshoe-shaped. It is a double-lane tunnel and because of the topography, it is also the country’s first tunnel to have an escape tunnel within the main tunnel. The first tunnel to deploy the Rowa flyer technology, which permits engineers to work at inverted levels.

Here are some lesser-known facts about the Atal Tunnel that connects Manali to Leh:

1. The idea of a tunnel under Rohtang was first talked about in 1960 by the Moravian mission

Later in the year 1942 it was Dr John Bicknell Auden, Geological Survey of India, who came up with a plan to construct a tunnel through the Rohtang pass.

2. In 1983 under the Indira Gandhi government, conception of the tunnel began.

3. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced the project on 3 June 2000

The work was assigned to BRO on 6 May 2002. Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the project on 28 June 2010

4. Atal Tunnel began construction on June 28, 2010, under Border Road Organization (BRO), India’s strategic infrastructure development agency

The construction occurred under extreme conditions as BRO engineers extracted almost 8 lakh cubic meters of soil and stone. Around 14,508 metric tonnes of steel and 2,37,596 metric tonnes of cement were used to build the tunnel. The engineers excavated five meters every day during the summer season, while during winters the excavation work was reduced by half due to harsh weather conditions and snowfall.

5. Atal tunnel length and height

The total length of the tunnel is 9.02 km. The tunnel is 8.8 kilometers long and is built at 3,000 meters of altitude above sea level. It cuts short the journey between Leh and Rohtang by 2.5 hours.

6. Atal tunnel cost

Atal Tunnel has been built at the cost of ₹3,200 crore, which converts to US$438 million! BRO has deployed state-of-the-art Australian tunneling methods along with a ventilation system for the vehicles passing through it.

7. Cause of delay in the project

The project was slated to be completed by 2015 but water ingress from Seri Nullah, a ban on rock mining, and a delay in the allotment of land needed for quarrying delayed the project.

8. As on 22 November 2017, only patients were allowed to be carried through the under-construction tunnel

During emergencies when the helicopter service was not available.

9. The tunnel is also of great strategic importance to India during the ongoing standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh

India will be able to deliver logistics and weapons to the Indian army stationed at the Indo-China border throughout the year and that too in a very short time.

10. Atal Tunnel eases traffic in Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh

Atal Tunnel not only reduces the distance between Leh and Manali but also eases traffic in Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, which is one of the premier tourist destinations in India. It will also connect Lahaul-Spiti with Manali.

11. In Nov 2019 when the tunnel was not yet complete, a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus carrying 44 passengers was allowed through the tunnel

The bus ran from the south portal and the passengers landed at the north portal. For the next five winter months, the bus service operated for residents of Lahaul and Spiti valleys. Private vehicles were not allowed.

12. There is a provision for an escape tunnel to the main tunnel in case any accident occurs

It would act as an emergency exit in such cases.

13. Facilities at Atal tunnel

• Vehicles can travel at a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
• There is also a facility of a telephone every 150 meters
• Fire hydrants at every 60 meters
• Air quality monitoring systems at every 1 kilometer and emergency gates at every 500 meters.
• There is a broadcasting system and automatic incident detection system with CCTV cameras every 250 meters.
• Semi-transverse system of ventilation is available in the tunnel.
• A 2.25 m high and 3.6 m wide emergency tunnel is incorporated in the tunnel cross-section under the main carriageway.

14. The intention of the tunnel is to create an all-weather route to Leh and Lahaul and Spiti valleys in Himachal Pradesh

These places otherwise remain detached from the rest of the country for about six months during winters.

15. More than 700 men worked in shifts every day to complete the tunnel

16. On 25 December 2019 the tunnel was officially renamed the Atal Tunnel, which was known as Rohtang tunnel.

It was named Atal tunnel in a tribute to the former Indian Prime Minister on his 95th birth anniversary.

17. Atal tunnel inaugaration

The project was completed 100% by Sept 2020 and on 3 Oct 2020, it was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in the presence of Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Finance, Anurag Thakur, and Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur.

18. Himachal Pradesh government will also run Vistadome buses inside Atal Tunnel with a glass rooftop and wide windows.

19. The 9.02 km long tunnel is currently the world’s longest single-tube highway tunnel at an altitude above 3,000 m(10,000 ft)

Have you visited the Atal tunnel yet? The construction of this tunnel required hard work and immense effort. We hope the tunnel stays long and strong.