Vajpayee’s Dream Has Come True

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh that connects Manali and Lahaul-Spiti valley which reduces the travel time to Leh by up to five hours. This is the most strategic and important road way and will be highly helpful for the defence forces.

Atal Tunnel is built in the Pir Panjal range of Himalayas and is 9.02 kilometres strong. The officials estimate that around 3000 cars and 1500 trucks can pass through it.

Inaugurating the tunnel, PM Modi said the dream of the late and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajypayee has come true today. “Atal tunnel will give new strength to India’s border infrastructure. It is an example of world-class border connectivity. Emphasis has been put on the development of border infrastructure. Its benefits are being extended to the common people as well as our armed forces personnel,” said PM Modi.

Indirectly quoting the recent stand-off between India and China, Modi added that there is nothing more important for us than protecting the country. But the country has also seen a period when the defence interests of the country were compromised.

Highly impressed by the Atal Tunnel, PM Modi requested the Ministry of Education to take up the construction of this tunnel as a case study. “Atal Ji laid the foundation stone of this tunnel in 2002. Till 2013-2014, progress was made only on 1,300 meters of this tunnel. We completed the work in just 6 years that would have taken 26 years. I request the Ministry of Education that the students of engineering & technical studies should be given a chance to do a case study of Atal Tunnel. The students must learn how this tunnel was built,” stated PM Modi.