Rohtang pass tunnel named after former PM Vajpayee

On 24 December 2019, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi decided that the strategic tunnel that was constructed under Rohtang Pass will be named after him. This is because the tunnel construction was started in June 2000, during his tenure.

About the tunnel

The tunnel is the world’s longest tunnel (8.8 km) at an altitude of 3,000 meters. The tunnel reduces the distance between Leh and Manali by 46 kilometers. This helps in saving crores of rupees on fuel usage. It is built under the Pir Pinjal range.

It is a single tube tunnel and is 10.5-meters-wide with fireproof emergency provisions. The geological and weather challenges were overcome by the Border Road Organization. It includes the Seri Nalah fault zone.

Rohtang Pass

The pass connects Kulu valley and Lahaul and Spiti valleys of Himachal Pradesh. The three rivers in the region of the pass are Chenab, Beas and Chandra rivers. The Beas river emerges from underground and flows southwards, Chandra river flows in the eastern Himalayas and the Chenab river flows westward.

Rohtang Pass. 

It is a high mountain pass on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas around 51 km from Manali. It connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh, India.The pass provides a natural divide between the Kullu Valley with a primarily Hindu culture (in the south), and the arid high-altitude Lahaul and Spiti valleys with a Buddhist culture (in the north). The pass lies on the watershed between the Chenab and Beas basins. On the southern side of this pass, the Beas River emerges from underground and flows southward and on its northern side, the Chandra River (flows from the eastern Himalayas), a source stream of the river Chenab, flows westward.