The meaning of friendship is the attachment to a person or persons, in which love, affection, mutual understanding, and carrying out the promise are significant. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee promised to his friend Arjun Gopa, while he was the PM of the country, to construct a tunnel that connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year.

Dream comes true – Atal Tunnel

The dream of Former Prime Minister Vajpayee’s friend, Arjun Gopal, turned into reality on Saturday with the inauguration of Atal Tunnel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rohtang in Himachal Pradesh.

Arjun Gopal suggests for tunnel

Two sons of Arjun Gopal alias Tshidawa Amar Singh and Ram Dev said their father had suggested constructing the tunnel to the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Tunnel to reduce distance and time

The all-weather Atal Tunnel will reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km and the travel time by four to five hours. This tunnel is the longest highway tunnel worldwide, and the 9.02 km long tunnel will connect Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley the entire year. Earlier, the valley used to remain cut off for almost five to six months due to snowfall.

Replete with ultra-modern specifications

The tunnel is constructed with all the ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas at the height of 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) from the Mean Sea Level (MSL). The south portal (SP) of Atal Tunnel lies at a distance of 25 km from Manali at the height of 3,060 meters (10039.37 ft), and the north portal (NP) of the tunnel lies near village Teling, Sissu, in Lahaul Valley. Its altitude is 3,071 meters (10075.46 feet).

According to officials, it is a horseshoe-shaped, single-tube double lane tunnel with a roadway of 8 meters and has an overhead clearance of 5.525 meters. The officials further said the tunnel, built at Rs 3,300 crore, which is extremely important for the country’s defence.

BRO worked relentlessly

The Border Road Organisation (BRO) had worked relentlessly to overwhelm all the geological, terrain, and weather challenges, including the most challenging stretch of the 587-meter Seri Nalah Fault Zone.

Tunnel has all facilities

Talking about the tunnel, a BRO official said it provides a telephone facility at every 150 meters of its stretch, a fire hydrant every 60 meters, emergency exits every 500 meters, a turning cavern every 2.2 km, air quality monitors every 1 km, broadcasting system, and automatic incident detection system with CCTV cameras every 250 meters.

Arjun met Vajpayee in 1998

Arjun Gopal of Tashi Dobhe village in Lahaul had suggested Vajpayee for the construction of the tunnel. He met the former prime minister in 1998 in Delhi and kept his word for the tunnel beneath Rohtang Pass for the benefit of the residents of Lahaul-Spiti district. Arjun Gopal died in 2008. His son Amar Singh (75) said his decades-long dream came true, and my joy knows no bounds.

The brainchild of Vajpayee’s govt

It was the brainchild of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government to build the strategic tunnel below the Rohtang Pass. The decision was taken on June 3, 2000, while the foundation stone for the entry road to the south portal of the tunnel was laid on May 26, 2002.

An honour for Vajpayee

The Union government had decided to name the Rohtang Tunnel as Atal Tunnel in December 2019 in the honour of the former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away in 2018.

Chance of substantial economic growth

The agriculture, horticulture, and tourism sectors of the tribal district will see a lot of positive changes in the coming days. Before the construction of the tunnel, the area had to remain cut off almost five to six months in winter due to snow-laden roads.

The life of the people of this region will certainly change. The tunnel would bring happiness and prosperity as well.

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