(Daily News Scan - DNS English) Rohtang Tunnel
Important Points:
Recently news was released regarding the Rohtang Tunnel’s opening for general traffic by the month of September next year. This is an 8.8 km long tunnel and is being built on the Leh- Manali Highway.
In this DNS we will know about Rohtang pass and its importance.
The Rohtang Tunnel is one of the longest road tunnels in the country with an elevation height of 10,171 feet under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of Himalayas. After the completion this tunnel will become the world’s longest highway tunnels. Presently this tunnel serves as a temporary winter link for the outside world and to the native people of Lahaul, Spiti and also to the people living in the Zanskar Valley of Ladakh.
This tunnel project is one of the prestigious tunnel projects in the country whose work is being monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office. This project started in the year 2010. The foundation stone was laid by Sonia Gandhi. The name of the tunnel is supposed to be kept after the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Once the project is completed it will be inaugurated by the honorable Prime Minister.
The development work of this tunnel project is being carried out by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and a huge chunk of contractual workers working in 24 hrs rotational shifts. This project has been delayed. It should have been completed 4 years ago itself. The reason behind its delay was massive torrents of water encountered inside the tunnel. The Seri Nullah that flows on top of the tunnel became a threat to derail the project. This issue took several years to sought and tackle the massive flow of water which often went upto 140 litres per second.
Now let us know why this tunnel project is given so much if importance and why it is being talked about.-
- Firstly, this tunnel will reduce the distance between Manali and tribal district Lahaul Spiti’s administrative centre Key long by around 45 kms.
- It has some strategic implications for the military too. This will help in access beyond Rohtang pass even in peak winters.
- It will provide an ample room for two way traffic and is designed to cater to a maximum speed of 80km/hr.
On completion it will be a boon for the people living in those areas in the snow freezing cold deserts of Lahaul Valley who remain cut off from the nation in the winter season due to closure of Rohtang Pass.
There are several facilities provided within this tunnel as well. It will have a telephone service at every 150 metre, Fire hydrant at every 60 metres, an emergency exit at every 500 metres, turning cavern at every 2.2 km and air quality monitoring at every 1km. Other facilities like broadcasting system, automatic accident detection system with CCTV at every 250 metres and also a capacity to make way for max 3000 cars and 1500 trucks a day are included in this tunnel project.
Though it should have been completed earlier it has missed several deadlines due harsh climatic condition and tough geographical conditions in the Himalayas. This project is expected to be completed by September 2020.
