President Kovind visits Atal Tunnel Rohtang

Tags: State News

President Ram Nath Kovind on 11 June visited Atal Tunnel Rohtang (ATR) which connects Kullu and Lahul Spiti districts on the second and final day of his visit to Himachal Pradesh.  

• Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur welcomed him by presenting him with a Thanka painting.

• Governor Rajendra  Arlekar also present on the occasion.

• About Atal Tunnel

• The 9.02 km long Atal Tunnel is the longest highway tunnel globally and connects Manali with Lahaul-Spiti Valley throughout the year.

• It provides a strategic advantage to the armed forces by providing an alternate link to the crucial Ladakh region.

• It has also been a boon to the residents of Lahaul and Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh.

• This tunnel, built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 03, 2020.

• It is equipped with a semi-transverse ventilation system, where large fans circulate air separately throughout the tunnel.

• An emergency tunnel has been integrated into the tunnel cross-section under the main carriageway for evacuation during emergencies.

• Fire inside the tunnel will be controlled within an area of 200 metres and fire hydrants will be provided at specific locations throughout the tunnel.

• Pollution sensors continuously monitor the air quality in the tunnel and if the air quality in the tunnel is below the desired level, fresh air is injected into the tunnel through two heavy fins on each side of the tunnel.