Tunnel will reduce the distance between Manali and the administrative center of Lahual-Spiti Keylong (File)
Dharamshala:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the 8.8 km long Rohtang Tunnel, under construction on the Leh-Manali highway, in the last week of September, the Himachal chief minister said on Thursday. Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur.
He said the tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to remote and border areas in the state.
The strategically important project is being completed at a cost of around Rs 3,200 crore, he said.
“The tunnel, which was a dream of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is expected to be inaugurated in the last week of September by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It will provide all-weather connectivity to remote and border areas,” the chief minister told reporters .
The tunnel is one of the longest road tunnels in the country and is being built at an elevation of 10,171 feet below the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas.
It will reduce the distance between Manali and the administrative center of Lahual-Spiti Keylong by approximately 45 kilometers.
He said that to improve activities and access in border areas, the state government is cooperating with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to develop heliports in border areas of China.
In response to a question, the chief minister said the state government has decided that temples will remain closed to the public until the end of August due to the increased number of coronavirus cases. in the country as well as in the state and due to other infectious diseases during the rainy season.
Responding to another question, Mr. Thakur said the state government wants to hold the Panchayat elections on time in the state.
