Atal tunnel to be a major boon for people of Himachal, Ladakh, says Amit Shah

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the Atal tunnel, the world's longest highway tunnel, will prove to be a major boon for the people of Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh in getting better healthcare, business and other opportunities, besides strengthening the country's strategic preparedness.

The 9.02 km-long all-weather tunnel, connecting Manali in Himachal Pradesh to Leh in Union Territory of Ladakh, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

"Atal Tunnel will prove to be a major boon for the entire region. People will now have access to better healthcare facilities, business opportunities & essential items. It will also strengthen our defence preparedness & generate employment by giving impetus to the tourism sector," Shah said in a series of tweets.

https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1312330464355471362

The home minister said it was a historic day for the entire country as the vision of Bharat Ratna and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee came true.

"Gratitude to PM @narendramodi ji on the inauguration of an engineering marvel the 'Atal Tunnel'. Congratulations to BRO for working relentlessly on this unprecedented project," he said.

https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1312330009202192385

Shah said as the longest highway tunnel in the world, 'Atal Tunnel' will reduce the travel time between Leh and Manali by 4-5 hours.

Being an all-weather tunnel, it will also connect Lahaul-Spiti with the rest of the country throughout the year which used to be cut off for months earlier, he said.

(PTI)