[srikrishna717]

Sad to see the accidents and hope people take more care.
Also, the first batch of Army vehicles passed through the Tunnel as per this
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/a...-manali/663864

[mmxylorider]

Think about it this way. There is someone on a bike/car stuck behind a truck doing 50 kmph on a two lane road for next 9 kms. That person will take a risk try to overtake and cause accidents. Local authorities should find speeding vehicles heavily for that stretch.

[ruzbehxyz]

W.e.f. 14th Oct.2020, please note the Atal tunnel closing timings:

1) 9 pm to 6 am everyday.
2) 2 pm to 3 pm everyday.

Above is due to laying of electric cable through the tunnel and will last till December.

[sagarpadaki]

Hope they will not dig up the road/pavement in the tunnel to lay these cables!

[ruzbehxyz]

Crossed Atal tunnel on 21st October 2020.
The tunnel is 1+1, one lane going and one lane coming. You are strictly warned for not stopping and no photography inside the tunnel. You are also not allowed to stop outside for photographs. On both entrances, the speed limit is 40 kmphr and inside the tunnel it's speed is reduced to 60 kmphr. The approach roads are fantastic.

[DirtyDan]

The Manali road between Mandi and Kullu is an absolute construction nightmare and will remain so for at least the next year or two. Jamb-ups and bladder busting delays. They are carving out the river gorge, widening the road, putting in tunnels and fly-overs. Great for the future,maybe, but a God-awful mess right now with no restrooms or open break areas. Not a good place for carting a family right now unless you boogey thru there very early in the morning, dawn-ish, which I did coming back.

Went thru the tunnel Oct. 31, 2020 just days after its opening. Free at the moment. Smooth concrete road bed, concrete walls and high ceilings. Well lit with computerized sign boards and safety equipment, ventilated. Takes maybe 10-15 minutes depending on the speed of the man in front of you. The tunnel starts 20km NW of Manali on a good new road, runs thru a mountain for 9.2km and comes out on its north side about 60 minutes to Keylong in a beautiful high mountain area. You can easily get from Manali to Keylong AND BACK in 6-7 hours using the tunnel.

The tunnel is militarily-politically strategic. I think the Chinese just found that out. It will cut lots of time off trips to Lahaul-Spiti, Leh. It will open the area to tourism and development (Heavy Sigh). Some times India actually gets it right! Pics from north of the tunnel on the road to Keylong. Light this day was glarey. You are a little closer to outer space on this 10,000 foot high road.

[earthian]

Crossed the tunnel on 22nd Oct, went up to Rohtang Pass, and came down to Manali via the old , but scenic route.

A lot of tourists at the other side of the tunnel (Leh side). A couple of budding entrepreneurs have set up food trucks too. I only hope that the pristine surroundings are not spoilt by trash.

[ruzbehxyz]

The North Portal of Atal Tunnel under the Koksar Panchayat has been declared as a Containment Zone. Tourists are requested not to visit.

[ruzbehxyz]

For the first time, residents of three villages of Lahaul, Koksar, Dimpuk and Ramthang will stay home in the winter as they feel the Atal Tunnel will make help accessible in case of snow-triggered calamities.

Residents of these three villages migrate to Kullu and other places in November and return in April. The area of Koksar panchayat is the most dangerous in Lahaul valley due to its high altitude and dozens of avalanche sites. Temperature in winter dips below minus 20 degrees Celsius and all water sources freeze.

The three villages, close to each other, lose their mutual connectivity after avalanches. Every house is locked and nobody stays back in the villages. Residents know that even thieves cannot reach the village in the winter.
“Residents are still in the villages. This could be possible only because of Atal tunnel, which is just 6km from here. In case of emergency or very heavy snowfall, we can walk to the tunnel and move out of the valley,” Koksar panchayat president Anju Shashani said.
She added that she herself is still in the village. “It has happened for the first time that we are not migrating to a warmer place. The police post of the panchayat is still manned by cops. Public works department employees are on duty. Some of villagers have gone out of the valley for some work and they will also return. It has become possible because of the tunnel. Otherwise, spending winter in our panchayat is both difficult and dangerous,” she said.

Koksar panchayat, which is above an altitude of 11,000ft, has had four spells of snowfall since October.
Temperature in the region is close to minus 10 degrees Celsius.

Source: https://m.timesofindia.com/city/shim..._content=om-bm

[Cessna182]

Originally Posted by ruzbehxyz

Source: https://m.timesofindia.com/city/shim..._content=om-bm

The consequence of good infrastructure development. This is the real trickle down economics. The tunnel itself is a work of incredible engineering (off topic- sometimes I wonder why our municipal bodies are so shamefully incompetent in a nation where the BRO sets the gold standards globally) but this shows how much one project can affect the lives of those around it. We need so many more such projects not only for roads but also for bridges, transport hubs, cold storages etc.

[mmxylorider]

I hope there are emergency vehicles stationed at the start of the tunnel to help evacuate residents of those 3 villages if required.

There are not a lot of pictures of the safety tunnel. It should have an exit close to the tunnel entrance and it surely would not be locked. Any knowledge of someone who has been to get a first hand look at the safety tunnel?

[ruzbehxyz]

41 out of 42 persons in Tholang village of Lahual Valley tested Covid positive.
Section 144 imposed.
Tourism stopped through the Atal tunnel.

With seven Lahaul and Spiti panchayats witnessing a sudden spurt in Covid cases over the past fortnight, the district administration has barred the entry of outsiders into the tribal region that has been attracting a lot of tourists ever since the Rohtang Atal Tunnel was inaugurated.

The administration has imposed restrictions under Section 144, which prohibits the gathering of five or more persons and the holding of public meetings, in the seven panchayats. Four of the panchayats — Sissu, Sanskar, Gondla and Koksar — are in Lahaul and the rest in Spiti.

As many as 166 Covid cases have been reported from Gondla panchayat alone over the past two weeks. The situation has been alarming in Tholang village where 41 of the total 42 residents have tested positive. Only 52-year-old Bhushan Thakur remained untouched by the virus.

Officials said the infection could have spread during a function, associated with a local deity, organised a few days ago.

Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Rai said outsiders would not be allowed beyond the Forest Department nursery near Sissu, which is close to the Atal tunnel’s north portal. A police check post has been set up to keep tabs on visitors. The ban, however, excludes locals and Army personnel, who take this route to proceed to Ladakh and other border areas.

The opening of the tunnel has allowed all-weather access to the tribal belt, which otherwise remained out of bounds for visitors during the winter months. Having a population of around 14,000, the district has reported 939 positive cases — 455 are active —and five deaths.

Source: https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/hima...-tunnel-173937

[CEF_Beasts]

3 cars seized, 7 ARRESTED after creating traffic jam in Atal Tunnel

Himachal Pradesh Police have arrested seven people and have seized three cars from the tourists after they stopped their vehicles in the middle of the tunnel to click pictures, dance and record videos.

https://youtu.be/M5f9PDVTFlg

[speedmiester]

Originally Posted by CEF_Beasts

3 cars seized, 7 ARRESTED after creating traffic jam in Atal Tunnel

Himachal Pradesh Police have arrested seven people and have seized three cars from the tourists after they stopped their vehicles in the middle of the tunnel to click pictures, dance and record videos.

A very good move, such dastardly acts should be dealt with iron hands. Now the police must ensure these idiots are booked under serious charges and made to serve jail time.
The culprits must be made to sweep the entire tunnel for 100 days. This is such a important link for Army, causing such nuisance is akin to treason.
Don't know what pleasure such acts provide to such numb skulls.

[ruzbehxyz]

The story of epic survival at the Atal tunnel.

https://youtu.be/lmLxIGgfIKg