Atat Tunnel: World's longest Tunnel above 10000 Feet Altitude.

Atal Tunnel or Rohtang Tunnel is the longest tunnel in the world above the height of 10000 feet from Mean Sea Level (MSL).

Located in the path of Rohtang pass from Manali to Leh the 9.2 Km long Atal Tunnel is now the longest Highway Tunnel in the world at an Altitude of 10000ft above the mean sea level. Construction of the project started on 28 june 2010 and completed on September 2020. It has Altitude of 10040ft at south portal and Altitude at North portal is 10075ft.

Previously the distance between Manali to Leh was 473 Km but now with the construction of this tunnel distance of 473 Km is reduced by 43 Km and travel time is reduced by 4-5 hrs.

This tunnel is safe for traveling in all weather condions. This route would be preferred now for Leh-Ladakh tour by the travellers over the Jammu-Srinagar Highway.

This tunnel is very much useful for the military aspect also it can provide army troops comfort and security amid the critical conditions between india and china at siyachen glacier.

It would be beneficial for army if the conditions goes to more stressful

Many political personalities are connected with this project :

Jawaharlal Nehru

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Sonia Gandhi

Narendra Modi

Historical Timeline:

Back in the days when distance from Leh-Manali is 473 Km & Time consumed on traveling is 13-14 hrs, PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee once visited Lahul in June 2000 he declared the confirmation of construction of 39 year old project conceived in 1983 by Govt. Of India.

Estimated cost of the project in 2000 was ₹500 Crore & Estimated period for completion of project was 6 years. Estimated Date for completion of project was 2015 initially.

In May 2002 BRO (Border Road Organization) was appointed as the incharge of constuction of the project but project didn't started due to some climatic and other political reasons. Till Dec 2004, the estimated cost for the project completion had grown to ₹1700 Crore.

In May 2007, Dr Manmohan Singh (PM of india at that time) awarded contract to the SMEC (Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation).

Date of completion is revised to 2014.

It was announced multiple times about the starting of project but till Nov 2009 no progress was initiated.

The project was actually started on 28 June 2010 at the south pole. In Oct 2017 Both ends of tunnel met each other.

Despite being incomplete in view of final finishing it was decided that patients were allowed to travel through under construction tunnel but only in case of Emergency.

On 25th Dec 2019, PM Narendra Modi Officially renamed the tunnel as ATAL TUNNEL.

100% work completed in September 2020.

On 3 October, 2020 the Atal Tunnel was Officially inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi.