Atal Tunnel inauguration LIVE updates: PM Modi speaks after inaugurating game changer

Here are some interesting facts about Atal Tunnel

1. Built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) the 9.02 km long Atal tunnel is the longest high-altitude highway tunnel in the world. 
2. The Atal Tunnel is also said to reduce the travel time between Manali and Leh by nearly 46 Kms, in turn reducing 4 to 5 hours of travel time.
3. The Atal Tunnel will have all-weather connectivity between Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley which was earlier cut off for six months of the year due to excessive snowfall in the region.
4. The Atal Tunnel has been designed for traffic density of 3,000 cars per day and 1,500 trucks per day with a max speed of 80 Km per hour.
5. The Atal Tunnel has the state of the art electromechanical system including semi transverse ventilation system, SCADA controlled firefighting, illumination and monitoring system.

READ more interesting facts about the Atal Tunnel HERE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the world's longest tunnel on a highway - the 9.02 km-long Atal tunnel named after former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday. 

PM Modi will formally inaugurate the 9.2-km Atal Tunnel, built at an altitude of about 10,000 feet above the sea level, at its South Portal (entrance) at Manali between 10 am and 11.45 am. 

The Atal tunnel is located in Sissu or Keylong in Lahaul. The Prime Minister is expected to flag-off a bus through the tunnel during the inauguration ceremony. The first passengers on the bus would be senior citizens of the region as a mark of respect to the locals of the tribal district, according to the Himachal Pradesh Technical Education Minister Ram Lal Markanda.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday visited the Atal tunnel in Rohtang, a day before its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 9.02-km-long tunnel that goes under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range at an altitude of 3,000 metres on the Leh-Manali highway is being considered as strategically important.

The historic decision to construct the tunnel was taken in 2000 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister.

'Moment of joy for the people of Himachal Pradesh'

"We've made all preparations and we're waiting for Prime Minister. Defence Minister will arrive here shortly and PM will reach tomorrow. It's a moment of joy for the people of Himachal Pradesh. This is a historical moment" CM Thakur said. Adding further the chief minister also said that around 200 people will be present at the event. He also emphasised on the significance of the tunnel in the light of the situation with neighbouring countries.

Atal Tunnel is being inaugurated after 20 years since it was first announced. The Rohtang tunnel has been named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Vajpayee had first announced the project back on June 3, 2000, after which the project faced several challenges owing to the sensitive terrain of the region.

Built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) the 9.2-km tunnel is the world’s longest tunnel situated above an altitude of 3,000 metres. It is also said to reduce the travel time between Manali and Leh by nearly 46 Kms which amounts to 4.5 hours. The Atal tunnel is also said to open up new opportunities for tourism in the tribal district. 

It is a horseshoe-shaped, single tube double lane tunnel with a roadway of 8 meters. It has an overhead clearance of 5.525 meters. It is 10.5-metre wide and has a 3.6 x 2.25 meters fireproof emergency egress tunnel built into the main tunnel itself. Atal Tunnel has been designed for traffic density of 3,000 cars per day and 1,500 trucks per day with a max speed of 80 km per hour.