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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Atal Tunnel

Published By : Admin | October 1, 2020 | 15:14 IST

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi shall inaugurate Atal Tunnel, Rohtang at 10 AM on 3rd October 2020.

Atal Tunnel is the longest highway tunnel in the World. The 9.02 Km long tunnel connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley throughout the year. Earlier the valley was cut off for about 6 months each year owing to heavy snowfall.

The Tunnel is built with ultra-modern specifications in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas at an altitude of 3000 Mtrs (10,000 Feet) from the Mean Sea Level (MSL).

The tunnel reduces the road distance by 46 Kms between Manali and Leh and the time by about 4 to 5 hours.

The South Portal (SP) of Atal Tunnel is located at a distance of 25 Km from Manali at an altitude of 3060 Mtrs, while the North Portal (NP) of the tunnel is located near village Teling, Sissu, in Lahaul Valley at an altitude of 3071 Mtrs.

It is horse shoe shaped, single tube double lane tunnel with a roadway of 8 Mtrs. It has an overhead clearance of 5.525 Mtrs.

It is 10.5-metre wide and has a 3.6 x 2.25 Mtrs fire proof emergency egress tunnel built into the main tunnel itself.

Atal Tunnel has been designed for traffic density of 3000 cars per day and 1500 trucks per day with max speed of 80 km/hr.

It has the state of the art electromechanical system including semi transverse ventilation system, SCADA controlled firefighting, illumination and monitoring system.

The Tunnel has ample safety features built into it. Some of the key safety features are

(a) Tunnel entry barriers at both portals.

(b) Telephone connections at every 150 Mtrs for emergency communication.

(c) Fire hydrant mechanisms at every 60 Mtrs.

(d) Auto incident detection system with CCTV cameras at every 250 Mtrs.

(e) Air quality monitoring at every 1 Km.

(f) Evacuation lighting / exit signs at every 25 Mtrs.

(g) Broadcasting system throughout the tunnel.

(h) Fire rated Dampers at every 50 Mtrs.

(i) Cameras at every 60 Mtrs.

The historic decision to construct a strategic tunnel below the Rohtang Pass was taken on June 03, 2000 when late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. The foundation stone for the Access Road to the South Portal of the tunnel was laid on May 26, 2002.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) worked relentlessly to overcome major geological, terrain and weather challenges that included the most difficult stretch of the 587-metre Seri Nalah Fault Zone. The breakthrough from both ends was achieved on October 15, 2017.

The Union Cabinet met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 24th December 2019 and decided to name the Rohtang Tunnel as Atal Tunnel to honour the contribution made by the former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

After attending the inauguration function of the Atal Tunnel at South Portal, Manali, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi shall be participating in public functions at Sissu in Lahaul Spiti and at Solang Valley.

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PM shares a Sanskrit Subhashitam emphasizing nature's conservation on World Environment Day
June 05, 2026

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today extended his best wishes to everyone on World Environment Day, applauding all those passionate about environmental conservation.

The Prime Minister remarked that this day serves to reaffirm the commitment to protecting the environment and furthering sustainable growth, highlighting the numerous government initiatives over the last decade that have expanded green cover and increased the population of several animal species.

Shri Modi noted that the people of India have demonstrated how collective efforts, robust policies, belief in science, and innovation can significantly improve the environment.

The Prime Minister observed that India takes immense pride in its biological diversity, which supports countless species and livelihoods through diverse ecosystems.

Highlighting noteworthy strides in special species recovery, Shri Modi pointed out that conservation efforts for the Great Indian Bustard, snow leopards, sloth bears, and Cheetahs offer a glimpse of how sustained commitment can help restore wildlife and ecosystems.

The Prime Minister added that initiatives like ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ have made significant contributions towards adding nearly 1.1 lakh hectares of forest every year.

Shri Modi affirmed that guided by the principle of ‘One Earth, One Family and One Future’, India will continue working towards a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable planet through the spirit of Mission LiFE.

The Prime Minister emphasized that this deep cultural ethos is beautifully reflected in traditional Indian wisdom, sharing a sacred Sanskrit Subhashitam to reinforce the message of environmental stewardship.

In a series of posts on X, the Prime Minister shared:

"Best wishes to everyone on World Environment Day. I would like to applaud all those passionate about environmental conservation. This is a day to reaffirm our commitment to protecting our environment and furthering growth that is sustainable. Numerous efforts by our Government over the last decade highlight our work in this direction. Some of India’s key successes include expanding green cover and a rise in the population of several animals. The people of India have shown how collective efforts, policies, belief in science and innovation can improve our environment.” 

“We in India are very proud of our biological diversity. Our diverse ecosystems support countless species and livelihoods. Our efforts in special recovery have also been noteworthy. Conservation efforts for the Great Indian Bustard, snow leopards, sloth bears and Cheetahs have given a glimpse of how sustained commitment can help restore wildlife and ecosystems. Initiatives such as ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ have made significant contributions towards adding nearly 1.19 lakh hectares of forest every year.” 

“Guided by the principle of ‘One Earth, One Family and One Future’, we will continue working towards a cleaner, greener and more sustainable planet through the spirit of Mission LiFE.” 

“प्रकृति का संरक्षण केवल एक दायित्व नहीं, बल्कि हमारी संस्कृति और संस्कारों का भी अभिन्न हिस्सा है।

मधु वाता ऋतायते मधु क्षरन्ति सिन्धवः।
माध्वीर्नः सन्त्वोषधीः॥"

May the air flow pleasantly and beneficially around us, may the rivers provide life-giving and nourishing water, and may herbs and plants bring health and well-being to all living beings.