“Atal Tunnel To Be A Lifeline For Ladakh,” Says PM Modi: Highlights

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi right this moment inaugurated the strategically vital all-weather Atal Tunnel at Rohtang in Himachal Pradesh. The 9.02 km lengthy Atal Tunnel, which reduces the space between Manali and Leh by 46 km and the journey time by 4 to 5 hours, is the longest freeway tunnel on the earth (above 10,000 ft).

The tunnel will join Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley all year long, the PMO stated, noting that the valley was earlier lower off for about six months yearly as a result of heavy snowfall.

Listed below are the HIGHLIGHTS of PM Modi’s speech at inauguration of Atal Tunnel:

• It’s a historic day right this moment. Not solely has Atal ji’s (former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee) dream come true, but in addition all of the residents of Himachal Pradesh.
• As Rajnath ji (Rajnath Singh) stated, when Atal ji used to go to Manali and was planning this tunnel, I used to be right here too. We used to sit down with him and perceive his imaginative and prescient.
• Usually it’s the case, that within the glamour of a wonderful second like this, those that have really labored evening and day, sweat it out, get missed out. I need to take this chance to thank them first. With out them, at the present time wouldn’t be potential.
• This tunnel isn’t solely vital to Himachal, but in addition as a result of it facilitates a connection to Ladakh.
• Individuals who stay within the mountains would know the importance of chopping down journey time by Four-5 hours.
• The Atal tunnel additionally strengthens India’s border areas with year-round seemless connectivity. It not simply betters infrastructure, but in addition helps our armed forces.
• Like a number of different infrastructure initiatives, the Atal tunnel too confronted neglect after Vajpayee ji’s time period got here to an finish. In a number of years, only one,300 meters was accomplished.
• If that is the way it was to be, this venture would take one other 20 years from right this moment to be accomplished.
• However within the final six years, our focus was to provide this a precedence, and I’m completely happy to say that 26 years’ value of labor has been accomplished in simply 6 years.
• Not simply the Atal tunnel, there was neglect on different strategic initiatives. One being the Daulat Beig Oldi air strip in Ladakh. This can be a venture of utmost nationwide significance. What had been the compulsions that led to this neglect?
• Equally, within the northeast, the Bogibeel bridge, which provides strategic connect with Arunachal Pradesh. That too confronted neglect.
• We’re working to make sure that there’s seemless connectivity when it comes to border areas connectivity.