Rohtang Tunnel, Road tunnel in Pir Panjal Range, India
The Atal Tunnel crosses through the Pir Panjal section of the Himalayas at roughly 3060 meters above sea level, linking Manali with the Lahaul-Spiti valley. It runs for about nine kilometers through rocky layers that remain covered in snow most of the year.
Construction started in 2010 after the government decided to create a permanent route through the mountains. The passage opened in October 2020 and was named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The passage allows communities in Lahaul and Spiti to stay in touch with the rest of Himalaya throughout the year, which matters especially during winter. Traders and farmers can move goods regularly, and families no longer face months of isolation from the outside world.
Driving through takes about twenty minutes and saves several hours compared to the old mountain route over the pass. In winter the road stays open, whereas previously the region became unreachable for months.
Inside you find emergency exits and telephones every few hundred meters, installed in case of breakdowns or incidents. The lighting and ventilation adjust automatically based on the number of vehicles and air quality inside the passage.
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