Tag: length of atal tunnel

As Atal tunnel, Rohtang, the longest tunnel in the world above altitude of 3,000m, is expected to be a major tourist attraction of Himachal, the chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said this tunnel will start a concept of "tunnel tourism" for the first time in the country. The infrastructure is being developed at both portals of the tunnel where tourism activities will be available for the tourists. The government is further planning to start different tourism activities here to attract more tourists. Government has also planned to run glass top vistadome buses on this route especially for the tourists. “Atal tunnel will open door to tunnel tourism which will be a new concept of tourism in the country. Both the portals of the tunnel will be developed on tourism point of view. People will come to see this engineering marvel at this altitude. Also, the approach road to the tunnel is full of scenery that offers view of snow-capped mountains, glaciers, towering peaks and glacial-fed rivers. The tunnel will also open doors to flourishing tourism in the Lahaul valley,” the CM said. He said that originally the tunnel was designed 8.8km in length but the resh GPS readings after completion of the work showed that it was 9.02km-long. “This tunnel will be credited as world’s longest motorable tunnel at altitude of 3,000m. This tunnel is also a result of friendship of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Tashi Dawa, a resident of Tholang village of Lahaul. As both wanted to find an alternate to lengthy and dangerous travel across Rohtang pass, the idea of the tunnel was conceived long back. Finally, work on approach road begun in 2002 and work on tunnel began in 2010,” he added.   Expedite work to give final touch to Atal tunnel for inauguration by