Page 26 - English 01-15 March, 2026

COVER STORY | Pragati Platform

PROJECT

Atal Tunnel - Symbol of Strategic

and Economic Strength

The Rohtang tunnel, pending for over a decade on the Manali-Leh Highway, was
completed in just six years due to the current central government’s high priority. This
tunnel has become a shining example of India’s resolve to become self-reliant…

Foundation stone laid on Since the foundation stone Why is the
May 26, 2002 was laid in 2002, only 1,300 Atal Tunnel special?
metres of tunnel work had
along with the foundation stone been completed by 2013-14. lThe construction of the Atal
Tunnel significantly assists the
of the approach road, by the Had work continued at the Indian Army deployed in Ladakh.
late Prime Minister Atal Bihari same pace, it would have Now, weapons and logistics are
Vajpayee. been completed in 2040. easily supplied even in winter.

Inauguration lThe Atal Tunnel is built at an
Cost – Rs 950 crore, altitude of 10,171 feet. It connects
to the Rohtang Pass. It is the
swelled to Rs 3,200 PM Narendra Modi highest and longest highway tunnel
crore due to delay. October 3, 2020 road in the world.

lThe horseshoe-shaped, single-tube,
The construction of the Atal Tunnel was not easy. double-lane tunnel has an overhead
Hurdles A 587-meter-long drain, with a flow of 8,000 litres lThe tunnel is equipped with
clearance of 5,525 metres.
of water per minute, hindered construction. This
problem was challenging in itself. To complete the state-of-the-art electro-mechanical
work on time, 3,000 workers and 650 BRO personnel systems, including a semi-
worked together in three shifts. transverse system and SCADA-
controlled firefighting, lighting, and
monitoring systems.

24 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || March 1-15, 2026