President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday, June 11, visited Atal Tunnel Rohtang, the world’s longest tunnel at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet.
The President is in Himachal Pradesh on a two-day visit since Friday.
He entered the tunnel from the north portal in Lahaul valley of Lahaul-Spiti district and reached its south portal in Manali of Kullu district, covering a distance of 9.02 km.
President Kovind expressed his pleasure over the construction of the structure.
This tunnel is associated with the future of the nation, he said.
The President reached Sissu village near the north portal of the tunnel in an Air Force chopper. On his arrival, he was accorded a traditional welcome.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur presented him a Thanka painting.
On the South Portal of the Atal Tunnel, Chief Engineer of the Border Roads Organization, Jitendra Prasad, apprised the President about the construction of the Atal Tunnel and regarding other important tunnels to be built on the Manali-Leh road in future.
An all-weather road beneath the 13,058-foot-high mountain in Himachal Pradesh’s Rohtang Pass, Atal Tunnel Rohtang was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 3, 2020.
The 9.2-km-long tunnel is the world’s longest highway single-tube tunnel located above 10,000 feet.
The underpass connects Lahaul of Lahaul-Spiti district and Manali of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh.
