The Atal Tunnel, an engineering marvel situated in the magnificent Himalayas, serves as a critical infrastructural link connecting the Lahaul-Spiti valley to Manali in Himachal Pradesh, India. This remarkable tunnel stretches approximately 9.02 kilometers beneath the Rohtang Pass, enhancing accessibility to remote regions that were otherwise isolated during harsh winter months. Officially inaugurated on October 3, 2020, the tunnel is named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, acknowledging his contributions to the development of the region. The significance of the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang extends beyond its impressive length and construction. By providing an all-weather route, it has transformed travel dynamics in the area, allowing for timely transportation of goods and services as well as improved emergency access for residents. The tunnel's strategic location is pivotal not only for enhancing mobility but also for fostering tourism, as visitors can now experience the scenic beauty of Lahaul-Spiti and the surrounding mountain landscapes without seasonal obstacles. Constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the Atal Tunnel, Rohtang is a marvel of modern engineering, utilizing advanced technology to ensure its durability and safety. The tunnel features a sophisticated ventilation system, emergency exit provisions, and robust lighting, making it a safe passage even under challenging conditions. Its design is tailored to accommodate vehicular movement in both directions, with the capacity to handle a considerable volume of traffic. The Atal Tunnel undeniably plays a vital role in the development and integration of the remote Himalayan regions, elevating their potential for economic growth and enhancing the overall travel experience for both locals and tourists. The Engineering Feat Behind Atal Tunnel The Atal Tunnel, a remarkable engineering accomplishment, spans an impressive length of 9.02 kilometers beneath the majestic Rohtang Pass in the Indian Himalayas. This tunnel is not only a vital link between the Lahaul-Spiti Valley and
The Atal Tunnel, an engineering marvel situated in the magnificent Himalayas, serves as a critical infrastructural link connecting the Lahaul-Spiti valley to Manali in Himachal Pradesh, India. This remarkable tunnel stretches approximately 9.02 kilometers beneath the Rohtang Pass, enhancing accessibility to remote regions that were otherwise isolated during harsh winter months. Officially inaugurated on October
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. Discover Kullu Manali was the first in the country to organise a study tour to Atal tunnel for an engineering college. 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
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
Synopsis: With inauguration of Atal Tunnel, Rohtang, just around the corner, this is a historical moment for the nation. But this is much more than just an inauguration of a project for residents of Lahaul, Pangi and Killar. This is the “tunnel of hope” that will bring fortune to the valley and set them free from centuries of imprisonment. A “Thank-You” programme held at Manali under the banner of Lahaul-Spiti Eco Tourism Society and Layul Utsav Committee where the officials of Border Roads Organization (BRO) and Afcons, the engineers, security personnel, designers and many others were given the honour by presenting them Lahauli cap, muffler, Buddhist khata, socks and plants. The tribals of Lahaul valley are celebrating the completion of the Atal tunnel, Rohtang, which will give them freedom from six months of imprisonment in winter months. The happy residents are organising a series of functions to honour all those who are involved in the making of this tunnel. The tunnel is ready and is expected to be open to general traffic by end of this month. With this, the residents will enter an all-new era where they can travel outside their valley even during winter months. As this dream of bypassing deadly Rohtang pass has been fulfilled after over 50 years, the residents under banner of Lahaul-Spiti Eco Tourism Society and Layul Utsav Committee expressed their gratitude towards key persons who helped in approval of this project and the engineers and officials who build the tunnel by honouring them in traditional style on Sunday. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) officials, the engineers, security personnel, designers and many others were given the honour by presenting them Lahauli cap, muffler, Buddhist khata, socks and plants. Some media persons and panchayat representatives close to the tunnel portals in Lahaul and Manali were
Synopsis: With inauguration of Atal Tunnel, Rohtang, just around the corner, this is a historical moment for the nation. But this is much more than just an inauguration of a project for residents of Lahaul, Pangi and Killar. This is the “tunnel of hope” that will bring fortune to the valley and set them free
The incessant rains in Kullu district have wreaked havoc as rivers are in flood, major roads and bridges are closed, people living close to rivers have started shifting to safe areas and landslides preventing people from going from one place to other. Both Manali-Rohtang-Leh and Manali-Chandigarh national highways are closed. A government school building at Palchan village has collapsed due to flood in Beas. A major bailey bridge at Akhara bazaar of Kullu that connects the Kullu town with left bank of Beas has been closed for traffic following Beas river damaged the approach road to the bridge.Two trucks and their drivers got stuck in the middle of the Beas at Patlikuhal near Manali after water level rose suddenly. Both, identified as Nand Kishor and Ravi, residents of Rajasthan, were rescued with the help of a rope and hydra crane.\n Traffic on Chandigarh-Manali national highway is stopped from Kullu and Mandi sides after a stretch of highway submerged near Duwada in Mandi district. While the buses and other heavy vehicles are stopped completely, light vehicles are being diverted to bypass road via Katola. A large number of buses, including tourist buses, are stopped at Bajaura. Police said the traffic will be resumed only after water level recedes and road becomes safe. The 38 Border Roads Task Force commander Col Uma Shankar said the Manali-Leh highway has also been blocked due to floods and landslides. “Massive landslides at Teling nullah and Pagal nullah in Lahaul have blocked the highway. We have cleared debris at Teling nullah but another slide has blocked it again. Machines are engaged to clear pagal nullah stretch. We have seen multiple landslides in 24 hours. We are working hard to resume traffic.” Chandigarh-Manali NH submerges near AutAll the water streams between Rohtang and Sarchu are in spate
The incessant rains in Kullu district have wreaked havoc as rivers are in flood, major roads and bridges are closed, people living close to rivers have started shifting to safe areas and landslides preventing people from going from one place to other. Both Manali-Rohtang-Leh and Manali-Chandigarh national highways are closed. A government school building at
The Manali-Spiti road, which was closed since October after heavy winter snowfall, has been reopened for vehicular traffic as Border Roads Organization (BRO) has cleared snow from Gramphoo-Kaza stretch including 14,000ft high Kunzum pass. This road connects with the Manali-Leh highway at Gramphoo, 16km north of Rohtang pass, and is a vital link to connect Lahaul valley with Spiti valley. The road further extends to Indo-China border at Sumdo. Known as one of the dangerous roads of the world, it is frequented by thousands of tourists every year. Given its strategically importance, Border Roads Organization (BRO) took over the Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphoo road from public works department a few years back. This road is now called SKG (Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphoo) road. While road till Kaza remains open even during winters, two teams of BRO clears snow from 140km Kaza-Gramphoo stretch after March. A BRO official said the snow from Spiti side was cleared till Kunzum pass many days back but clearing snow from Lahaul side was very challenging and took too much time. “The very heavy snowfall this season delayed the opening of the road. We had to clear over 30ft of snow at some places. Last year the road was opened in May. The road was damaged at some places. A large number of avalanches have hit the road. Light vehicles can now ply the road and we are improving the surface condition,” he said. Currently, the road is in bad condition, especially between Kunzum pass and Gramphoo. Ministry of Defence is considering widening of the highway for many years. Local residents have also been demanding to improve the condition of the road as even large vehicles fail to negotiate some stretches with huge boulders laid on the surface. Spiti is emerging as top tourist destinations of Himachal for its ancient monasteries, culture,
The Manali-Spiti road, which was closed since October after heavy winter snowfall, has been reopened for vehicular traffic as Border Roads Organization (BRO) has cleared snow from Gramphoo-Kaza stretch including 14,000ft high Kunzum pass. This road connects with the Manali-Leh highway at Gramphoo, 16km north of Rohtang pass, and is a vital link to connect
After remaining blocked for over five months, Manali-Rohtang Pass-Keylong highway has finally opened for vehicular movement as Border Roads Organization (BRO) on Sunday morning cleared snow from north face of Rohtang at 4am. Working under pressure to connect Lahaul valley by road before election on May 19, BRO jawans had to work over 12 hours a day under extreme weather conditions. This season the entire area has received extremely heavy snow, more than last many years. Earlier it was assumed that road will not open before May 25 as BRO on Friday had to cut through 20 to 30ft high mountains of snow in 5km stretch. Last year traffic on Manali-Keylong highway was resumed on April 5 while it opened on April 28 in 2017. A BRO official said Rohtang pass and nearby areas are still getting snow, which largely affected their work this season. “The Manali-Keylong road was opened at 4am today. We worked all night to achieve this deadline as people of Lahaul wanted to go to cast poll. We had to search the road under 10 to 50ft deep snow. A large number of avalanches have hit the highway. Our primary goal was to connect Lahaul valley and provide relief to the residents. Now we shall focus on clearing snow from Keylong-Sarchu stretch. Our machines and jawans are advancing towards 16,050ft high Baralacha pass as well,” he said. “BRO officials had informed on Saturday morning that their two teams advancing towards 13,050ft high Rohtang from Manali and Lahaul sides will meet between Rohtang and Koksar tonight at any cost. Today morning at 4am they connected Manali with Lahaul. Some vehicles went to Lahaul via Rohtang pass on Sunday,” Manali sub-divisional magistrate Ashwani Kumar said. Ashwani added that road will not be opened for general traffic movement for
After remaining blocked for over five months, Manali-Rohtang Pass-Keylong highway has finally opened for vehicular movement as Border Roads Organization (BRO) on Sunday morning cleared snow from north face of Rohtang at 4am. Working under pressure to connect Lahaul valley by road before election on May 19, BRO jawans had to work over 12 hours
Thousands of residents of snow-bound Lahaul would shortly be linked to outer world as Border Roads Organization (BRO) is starting its snow clearance operation to restore traffic on Manali-Rohtang-Leh highway from March 1, followed by a pooja ceremony at Kothi, near Manali. Rohtang pass (13,050ft) is expected to have covered under 25 to 30 feet thick sheet of snow. Thickness of snow can be over 50 feet at some glacier points including Rahni Nullah. As snowfall would continue till late March, snow accumulation is likely to increase by 10 to 20 feet in next few days. Main hurdle which jawans of BRO would face in snow clearing operation will be avalanches and landslides, in addition to finding the missing road which is similar to finding needle in haystack. For the safety of jawans, BRO will organize a pooja at Kothi, from where the snow clearing work will start. Residents of Lahaul who are dependent on emergency helicopter service to stay connected with outer world wait for the restoration of the Manali-Keylong highway which passes through mighty Rohtang pass. The same highway which further connects with Leh in the Ladakh region is a vital link in military point of view. The convoys of military also wait for opening of the highway to take necessary military supply to Ladakh. To restore highway fast, snow clearing will be started from both sides of Rohtang. 38 Border RoadTask Force commander Colonel Yogesh Nair said all preparations have been done to start digging snow from Kothi side. Baralacha-la (16,020ft) would be the second pass where BRO would concentrate after Rohtang pass. Dozens of BRO jawans suffer minor frostbites, cold and face burns with high-velocity icy winds of Rohtang while opening the road. Project Deepak of BRO maintains the 222-km-long stretch of Manali-Sarchu highway which is
Thousands of residents of snow-bound Lahaul would shortly be linked to outer world as Border Roads Organization (BRO) is starting its snow clearance operation to restore traffic on Manali-Rohtang-Leh highway from March 1, followed by a pooja ceremony at Kothi, near Manali. Rohtang pass (13,050ft) is expected to have covered under 25 to 30 feet
Given the safety of tourists, they are not allowed to move beyond the Marhi, 17 km before Rohtang (35 km from Manali). BRO has decided to repair the highway first. A meeting would be held at Rohtang on June 2 and after taking stock of the entire highway up to ‘zero-point’ on Rohtang, BRO would decide whether it would be safe for tourists to reach Rohtang or the period should further be extended. Till then, they would have to enjoy the snow on the downhill of Rohtang. June 2 would decide whether Tourists would be lucky enough to see the scenic views of Rohtang pass or they will have to wait for some more days...
Given the safety of tourists, they are not allowed to move beyond the Marhi, 17 km before Rohtang (35 km from Manali). BRO has decided to repair the highway first. A meeting would be held at Rohtang on June 2 and after taking stock of the entire highway up to ‘zero-point’ on Rohtang, BRO would
