President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday toured the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang, describing the 9.02-kilometre structure as an engineering marvel of global standards constructed with exemplary dedication by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The visit, part of her three-day tour of Himachal Pradesh, underscored the tunnel’s dual role in civilian connectivity and national security.
Keywords: Atal Tunnel, President Droupadi Murmu, Border Roads Organisation, National Security, Rohtang Pass, Strategic Connectivity, High-Altitude Infrastructure, Lahaul-Spiti, Leh Ladakh, China, Chinese Border
Located at an altitude exceeding 10,000 feet, the Atal Tunnel is the world’s longest highway tunnel above that elevation. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 3, 2020, it provides all-weather connectivity between Manali and the Lahaul-Spiti valley, reducing travel time by four to five hours and ending the region’s traditional winter isolation of nearly five to six months when the Rohtang Pass remained closed.
President Murmu travelled through the tunnel to its North Portal, where she was welcomed by local women leaders and residents in traditional style. Accompanied by Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta and other officials, she inspected exhibits, received a detailed briefing from BRO Project Yojak officers on the tunnel’s construction challenges and technical features, and signed the visitors’ register. She became only the second President to visit the site after Ram Nath Kovind in June 2022.
While the tunnel has boosted tourism and socio-economic opportunities for remote Himalayan communities, its foremost significance lies in national security. Prior to its opening, reaching forward border posts across the mountain passes was often difficult or impossible during harsh winters. The all-weather link now enables year-round access for security forces, ensuring sustained logistics, troop mobility and operational readiness in strategically sensitive areas leading towards Ladakh.
In her remarks shared via the official Rashtrapati Bhavan handle, President Murmu stated that the tunnel stands as a testament to India’s technological prowess, determination and commitment to seamless connectivity in the most challenging terrains. Governor Gupta echoed this, calling it a world-class example of engineering excellence that has brought Lahaul-Spiti closer to the rest of the country while fostering development in remote regions.
The Atal Tunnel, built at a cost of approximately Rs 3,200 crore under extreme geological and climatic conditions, continues to exemplify the BRO’s critical contribution to India’s border infrastructure and defence preparedness.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
