The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Thursday, March 24, 2022, introduced a ticket (or permit) system to visit Atal tunnel, Rohtang, for both tourists and engineering students who wish to avail the facility of guided tours to see the tunnel closely from inside. The service is known as Atal tunnel ticket, which is actually a ticket to enter some of the restricted areas of the tunnel for education and knowledge purpose. For this purpose, a website was launched by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh.
Overview of the service
Service name: Atal tunnel permit or Atal tunnel ticket
Website: https://marvels.bro.gov.in
Ticket cost: Rs 100/- per visitor
Ticket for children: Children below 12 years of age will be complimentary
Service launch date: 24 March 2022
Launched by: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh
Handling agency: Border Roads Organisation
Tour type: Guided group tour
Do all tourists need to book a ticket/permit to visit Atal tunnel: No, all tourists can enter the tunnel in vehicles without the requirement of a permit/ticket.
Who needs to book a ticket: Only those visitors who wish to know technical and engineering aspects of the tunnel from inside.
Tour type: A guided group tour with help of tour guide (for tourists) and guided educational tour with help of a BRO engineer/officer.
BRO launches website to book ticket/permit to Atal tunnel
Engineering marvel Atal tunnel, which remains under strict security for safety reasons, has opened to visitors who wish to see and understand the technology of the 9.02km long tunnel.
Civilians are not allowed to enter the tunnel on foot and stopping vehicles inside tunnel is illegal. Visitors can see the tunnel only while driving through it at a constant speed of 60 KMPH or can take selfies with tunnel from outside only. Now, those who are interested in technology and engineering behind this prestigious tunnel can book their tickets for guided tour.
A Border Roads Organisation spokesperson said, “Now tourists can book tickets for visiting Atal tunnel, Rohtang, to learn various aspects of the world famous hi-tech tunnel. A ticket will cost Rs 100. Children below 12-year-old will not be charged. Local tour operators will also be benefitted from it who will provide guided tour to tourists and educational tours to various engineering college students.”
The tickets can be booked online and tourists can avail guided tours to restricted areas of the tunnel including emergency escape tunnel and its technology support rooms. They can learn how the tunnel was built at such an elevation and what technology has been used to build it. They will also understand its ventilation, safety, electrical, communication and other aspects. While tourists will visit tunnel in groups with help of tour guides, engineering students will be taken inside the tunnel by BRO engineers and officials.
The spokesperson added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi during inauguration of the Atal tunnel had focused on sharing its engineering and technical expertise with others along with socio-economic development of the nearby area of Himachal. “As part of his vision, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dedicated a website www.marvels.bro.gov.in to the nation on Thursday. Tickets to visit tunnel can be booked online from this website.”
BRO has also planned to establish a museum on Atal tunnel to showcase who the tunnel was built, which machines were used and what were the challenges faced by engineers and workers. The museum will become another attraction of the tunnel.
Atal tunnel has gained popularity among tourists in a short time period. Thousands of tourists visit the tunnel every year. Many tourists wish to see the tunnel closely from inside which was not possible due to security reasons. Now tourists will be able to see the tunnel closely in a regulated and safe manner.
Over 18 lakh tourists have visited Atal tunnel since its inauguration on October 3, 2020.
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