Prime Minister Narendra Modi will supposedly lead the inauguration of Atal Tunnel at Rohtang Pass situated on the Leh-Manali highway to be scheduled on October 3 as given information by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur on Monday.
Jai Ram Thakur also mentioned that Modi will also be visiting Lahaul, and would further inaugurate Lahaul-Spiti post that. Though he clarified that the scheduled plan is a tentative one and the exact dates need be checked further.
State minister Ram Lal Markanda stated that PM Modi might address the crowd after inauguration of the tunnel at Sissu or Keylong in Lahaul and also flag-off a bus through the tunnel.
“The government will honour elderly residents of Lahaul by making them the first passengers to cross this tunnel by bus.” He added.
Earlier recognized as Rohtang tunnel, it has been renamed as Atal Tunnel in the fond memory of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The tunnel, with its 9 km length, is considered as longest road tunnels and aims at reducing the travel-distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km.
