If you thought that 2022 was filled with remorse, you are not alone. But here’s some good news which might rekindle your travel plans in 2023. The world’s longest mountain tunnel, Atal Rohtang Tunnel has been inaugurated. Guess what? It’s made in India! Apart from being a matter of National Pride, it has been named after one of the most respected Prime Minister of all times, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The construction of the 8.8 kilometre-long tunnel is complete and will become operational by the end of September. Located precisely along the highway between Manali and Leh, the eight-hour journey has been drastically reduced by two and a half hours.

How did it all begin?

The idea took birth in the year 2000 under Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s rule itself. Initially, it was to complete in the year 2011 but some geological changes forced the project to get delayed. The responsibility of constructing this tunnel was given to the Border Roads Organisation which was to see results at the end of 2019. This was delayed further due to the outbreak of the pandemic. Fortunately, with the architectural intelligence of thousands of workers, the project saw fruition in September 2020. According to reports of the Border Roads Organisation, not a single fatality was reported during all these years of work.

Atal Rohtang tunnel will see speed limits of up to 80 kilometres per hour and over 1500 trucks and 3000 cars are said to use this tunnel. This will prove to be a great vantage point for road links between Lahaul and Spiti. The buses which travel through this tunnel will have glass roofs offering stunning views of the Himalayan ranges. The rugged topography and weather conditions caused huge challenges to the Border Roads Organisation and a huge amount of labour force was involved to set things right.

Also read: Manali to Spiti Valley: Travel Guide – The guide you can rely upon on a trip

The way forward

With interstate borders reopening up, Atal Rohtang tunnel will prove to be a major booster for the tourism sector. A large part of the adjoining Himalayan regions depends heavily on tourism for their economy. Considering that the tunnel will be a major connecting point from Manali to Leh, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir are sure to become tourism hotspots. This will also prove to be a sigh of relief for the locals living in that area.

During the winters, the northern part of India, specifically, the Himalayas remain off-limits due to extreme weather conditions. For all people living in the Leh, Ladakh and Kargil regions, Atal Rohtang tunnel will be extremely beneficial. If reports are to be believed, hotels of Himachal Pradesh are said to open by the middle of September. With the inauguration of the Atal Rohtang tunnel, these hotels will also see an influx of guests.

Also read: 3-nights 4-days Manali tour – Snowy Surprises At Himachal

As per PM Modi’s statements, after years of hard work, the dream of Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been fulfilled and given to him as a tribute. He was a frequent tourist of Manali himself. This magnificent project will surely give India an edge when compared to the rest of the world. Northern India and North-Eastern India will see a huge influx of tourists as a result of this tunnel. In the meantime, you can check out some amazing staycation options and International tour packages offered by Pickyourtrail. When the world’s longest mountain tunnel is under India’s credit, let’s make safe travel a similar success story!