By: Vijay Kumar Verma ( Editor-ICN Group )
SHIMLA: Being built by the Border Road Organization at an altitude of 10,180 feet in Himachal Pradesh, the 8.8 km long Rohtang Tunnel is designed to provide an all weather passage to Lahaul valley from Manali.
The tunnel under the Pir Panjal range of mighty Himalayas will not only reduce the distance by some 46 kms but will also be an all weather link to the valley which remains cut off for about four winter months every year. The passage will also provide a crucial link with Siachen, which is the highest battle field in the world bordering Pakistan.
The tunnel takes off 25 kms away from the famous tourist place Manali and terminates at Teling village near Sissu in Lahaul valley.
Besides the tourists the tunnel will benefit the valley residents besides the movement of army which needs to take a detour via Srinagar.
The Rohtang pass has always remained a point of tourist attraction with snow covered hills round the year. Due to the increasing vehicular movement on this road, the glaciers were getting affected badly necessitating the National Green Tribunal imposing restrictions on vehicular traffic on this road. Recently the state government has started plying electricity driven buses on this road besides restricting the number of permits to taxi operators to contain pollution.
While the people in Lahaul valley had been expecting emergency passage through the tunnel this winter, the BRO has refused any movement of vehicles. The tunnel is expected to be thrown open to traffic after two more years while its excavation had commenced in 2010. The tunnel is being constructed by the BRO at a cost of over Rs. 4000 crore.
