Fault rectified, Rohtang tunnel opens to emergency vehicles

Our Correspondent

KULLU, OCTOBER 18

Rohtang tunnel project Chief Engineer KP Purshothaman said the permanent solution to the water ingress near the Seri Nullah zone had been found and now the tunnel could be used for the traffic movement for the emergency purposes during the winter.

The Seri Nullah fault zone in the tunnel had affected the work. The tunnel had been blocked even for emergency purposes since July 19 due to the ongoing work on the Seri Nullah zone. The work is expected to be completed by October 31 but the authorities have achieved the task before the expected time.

Even while civil and electrical works are continuing, the passage of emergency vehicles has been allowed since both ends of the tunnel were connected on October 12, 2017.

Many unexpected geological challenges, including high water ingress from Seri Nullah, affected the work progress.

The BRO kept postponing the deadline for the completion of the work. The BRO has now given another deadline of September 2020 after the civil works are complete.

The foundation stone of the project was laid by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on June 28, 2010, at Dhundi. It is being built in Pir Panjal ranges above 10,000 ft. The estimated completion time period of the tunnel was five years.

The excavation of the tunnel had started from Dhundi, 25 km from Manali. Later, the work was also started from the opposite end in Lahaul near Sissu village.

The tunnel will shorten the distance between Manali and Keylong by 46 km and will cut short travel time by nearly three hours.