Atal Rohtang Tunnel바카라�A Dream Turning Into Reality For Lahaul Population On Oct 3

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 9.02 km long Atal Rohtang Tunnel on October 3. The newly built Atal Tunnel is the world's longest tunnel at a height of 10,000 feet.  

The Tunnel was the dream project of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who granted it approval in 2000.

As one walks down the market areas of Keylong, district headquarter of Lahaul-Spiti, one cannot help but notice visible signs of exuberance.

The tunnel which will provide an all-weather connectivity to the Lahaul-Spiti region, will reduce the distance between Manali and Keylong by 46 km. However, the most pertinent benefit of the tunnel is that it is going to end decade바카라�s long isolation of the Lahaulas.

In the local dialect, Rohtang is also known as 바카라�a pile of bodies바카라� because of life risks involved in crossing the mountain pass during winter months.

바카라�You will wonder how much sacrifice and pain we have endured to wait for the Tunnel project. The Rohtang pass, one of world바카라�s toughest passes in the Pir Panchal ranges, had seen countless deaths due to accidents because of snow-storms and avalanches. We used to walk a 40-feet high snowfall to reach Manali,바카라� recalls Nawang Soman, a 52-year-old trader. 

Crossing the height of 13,059 feet, during winters was not a simple challenge. Though, many a time people had to spend the night in the rock caves in order to escape snow storms. Crossing the Rohtang Pass after 12 noon was practically impossible and full of dangers.

바카라�As a child, I once started walking with my uncle from Manali. There was at least 30-feet high snow on Rohtang Pass. We also had some mules carrying goods. A snow storm hit Rohtang Pass and we had an opportune escape as all of us took shelter inside a rock cave and spent the entire night there,바카라� recollects Ramdev Kapoor, who retired recently from the state바카라�s Public Relations department.

It바카라�s in fact Kapoor바카라�s father Tashi Dawa, a close friend of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is remembered for convincing Vajpayee for sanctioning the tunnel.

Kapoor is going to be among the 15 passengers, who will board a special bus which Prime Minister Modi will flag off from the South Portal i.e. Manali.

바카라�I have been getting a lot of phone calls from the media and also locals remembering my father's biggest contribution in making Vajpayee agree for the tunnel project. I wish he was alive to see this reality happening on the ground. My father died in 2012,바카라� he says.

Tashi Dawa hailed from Tholang village and had come in contact with Vajpayee during a RSS camp in Baroda, Gujarat, in 1942. Dawa used to visit the former prime minister whenever he used to come to Prini village in Manali.

The 77-year old Sonam ,however, believes the strategic importance of the Tunnel, which Modi will inaugurate will give India an edge over its enemies in China and also Pakistan . 바카라� Yeh to desh hit aur rashtriya suraksha ki baat  hai (It's an issue of national security and country's sole interests ) We see India's position getting strengthened with the commissioning of the Tunnel  바카라� 

Though, he differs as who should get the real credit for the Tunnel but suggests that late Indira Gandhi ,former PM , should also get his due .She used to often visit Lahaul Spiti .Then forest minister Thakur Devi Singh Thakur had been pleading for the Tunnel .Late Indira Gandhi got a survey of the tunnel done .It's the result of that now Tunnel is ready .

Minister for forest and youth services and Sports Rakesh Pathania, who will receive Modi at North portal with local minister Dr Ram Lal Markanda,and others said a Rs 18 cr project will be submitted to the Prime Minister for promotion of adventure ports and winter games .

The area is going to see a major footfall of the tourists ,beside a socio-economic revolution . The strategic importance of the tunnel is already getting high attention as now forces and supplies can be routed from the Rohtang tunnel .