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duce many problems being faced by the
people of the area and of Lahul Spiti, he FACT FILE
added.
The initial estimated cost of the project
was set at 1,495 crore. However, experts 1 The foundation stone of the tunnel 2 As of May 2017, 7.92 km of the tunnel
disclosed that it has already gone higher was laid on June 28, 2010. After two digging was completed. Till July 2018
than the estimated cost and when it will years (June 2012) about 3.5 km of the digging of most of the part of the
be completed the total cost may touch tunnel digging had been completed, tunnel was completed. According to
`5,000 crore mark. The Rohtang Tunnel however, in the next one year, only a the engineers Seri rivulet’s impact has
project is a very ambitious programme little progress was made. It was due also been managed and its impact is
of Defence Ministry. The 474 km-long to the heavy ingress of water that reduced to just 30 metres.
Manali-Keylong-Leh highway is being required constant dewatering and
used by the Indian armed forces to reach slowed the digging and blasting to a 3 The estimated cost of the project in
forward areas in Ladakh bordering China crawl. In October 2013, a little more 2010 was 1,700 crore. It was revised
and Pakistan. After the completion of the than 4 km of the tunnel had been dug to 2,000 crore in 2015 and the
tunnel, this motorable road will be open but approximately 30 meters portion projected cost of the project by 2019
round the year which will help them of the roof of the tunnel collapsed is pegged at 4,000 crore. Conceived JAI RAM THAKUR, Chief Minister, HP
(armed forces) in their movement. towards the north portal on October in 1998, the project was announced
It is pertinent to mention here that 17 due to which the engineers were by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari The biggest hindrance in the
the Indian government felt the strategic forced to stop the digging work. In the Vajpayee on June 3, 2000. The work construction of this tunnel
importance of the Manali-Leh link when next one year, only half km (total 4.4 was entrusted to the Border Road The Army is hopeful of complet-
Pakistan tried to cut off the Srinagar-Leh km) digging was done till September Organization (BRO) on May 6, 2002. was managing of Seri Nallah in ing the construction of the tunnel
road during the Kargil conflict, in a bid to 2014 which is almost half mark of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) between the tunnel. Only this at the earliest. Chief engineer, BRO,
total length of 8.8 km. In another two chairperson Sonia Gandhi laid the stretch of about 600 metres took Brig Nilesh Chandrana, told to
years as of December 2016, 7.6 km of foundation stone of the project on about four years. The tunnel Tehelka that the construction work
The initial estimated the tunnel digging was completed. June 28, 2010. has strategic importance as it has entered its last leg and every
cost of the project would provide all weather road effort is being made to complete
the things at the earliest. ‘’All civil
was set at Rs.1,495 connectivity up to Leh Ladakh engineering works are likely to be
crore. However, as of oxygen in the tunnel as ventila - vide year around road connectivity bordering China. This tunnel over by December 2019, he added.
was a scientific marvel and on
Recently, Himachal Chief Min-
per the experts, it tion system was yet to be installed. In to Lahaul with rest of the country, it completion would attract tourists ister Jai Ram Thakur in a meeting
has already gone March this year, it was said that the will also open up additional access from all over the world. Prime at Sisu near Rohtang reviewed the
tunnel may be fully opened for gen-
progress of work with the senior
to Ladhak. Presently, the only road
higher than the eral traffic in 2019 after detailed work to Ladhak passes through Kashmir Minister Narendra Modi was keen officers of the Border Road Organi-
that this project was dedicated to
estimated cost of laying the concrete road, security and is very close to the Line of Control the nation at the earliest. State sation and Strabag AG Afcons JV GOVIND SINGH THAKUR, Transport
points, fire safety, complete ventila-
with Pakistan, where it lies exposed to
Company executing this ambitious
Minister, Himachal Pradesh
tion and telephone booths at regular cross-border shelling, he added. Government would make efforts to project of national importance.
restrict road access to Ladakh. The open- intervals is completed. However, now To make Leh- Manali an all-weath- associate the Rohtang Tunnel with Agriculture and Information Tech-
ing of all-weather road will help forces a there are all indications that the work er road, four tunnels would need to tourism. This would provide ample nology Minister Ram Lal Markan-
lot because at present they move to the on the tunnel is still going on and it be constructed and Rohtang Tunnel opportunities for employment da, who represents Lahul constitu- BRO has done a great job
forward areas in Ladakh from Manali side could be completed by the beginning is one of them. The contract for the ency, also attended the meeting on this project. Despite
only between June and November last or of 2020 only. other three tunnels was also allot- and self-employ- ment to the along with Manali MLA and cabi- the geological challenges,
first week of December due to inclement Chief Engineer of Rohtang Tunnel ted to BRO in 2016. According to the local youth of the area. The Union net minister Govind Thakur. CM they have made all efforts
weather conditions. NM Chandarana while speaking to the engineers working with the project Government was contemplating said in the meeting that Rohtang to continue the work.
The tunnel at Rohtang pass is located Tehelka, said that the approach road to unforeseen problems which had not to construct three more tunnels Tunnel was bound to transform the When completed it will
at a height of around 10,000 feet above the North Portal of the tunnel from been anticipated when the contract on this road up to Leh so that this economy of landlocked Lahaul Spi-
the sea level. On November 22, 2017, it was Palachan is 14.8 km has four snow was awarded, geological surprises road of strategic importance could ti district by providing all-weather be a boon for over 20,000
decided to allow patients to be carried galleries, one deflector wall and eight and problems like water ingress in connectivity to this beautiful valley. people in the cold deserts
through the under-construction tunnel snow bridge, while on the approach to 2012 were the reason for the delay in be strengthened and distance Jai Ram said that the foundation of Lahaul Valley, who
only in the gravest of emergency when South Portal of the tunnel there were executing the project. “A lot of muck up to Leh and Ladakh would be stone of this ambitious project was remain cut off from rest of
the helicopter service was not available. five snow galleries and snow protec- flow in Sansri Nallah patch required reduced by about 100 km and also laid by late Prime Minister Atal the nation in winter season
However, common civilians were not tion structures. some skilful engineering that took travelling distance by about Behari Vajpayee. due to the closure of the
allowed to enter the tunnel before com- Considering vital infrastructure, more than three years to overcome seven hours. Rohtang Pass.
pletion due to risks of falling rocks, lack Rohtang Tunnel would not only pro- the problem,’’ said an engineer. LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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