Manali: The prestigious Rohtang Tunnel project registered it best performance in 2016 for all works, be it – Heading (tunnel boring), Benching, Kicker lining or emergency tunnel work, ever since work started on it in 2010, Brigadier DN Bhatt, chief engineer Rohtang Tunnel disclosed to Hill Post.
“We are working 24/7 hrs to achieve the target of completing the Rohtang tunnel by second half of 2019, said Brig Bhatt.
Unit in Meters
The chief engineer said that to make Leh- Manali a all-weather road, four tunnels would need to be constructed and Rohtang Tunnel is one of them. Contract for the other three tunnels has also been allotted to BRO, he said.
The conceptual plan of Rohtang tunnel first figured in 1983 but work on ground only was started in 2010 and it was stipulated to be completed by 2015. Bhatt said, “unforeseen problems which had not been anticipated when the contract was awarded, geological surprises and problems like water ingress in 2012 were the reason for delay in executing the project. A lot of muck flow in Sansri Nallah patch required some skilful engineering that took more than 3 years to overcome the problem, he added.
Brig Bhatt disclosed that the tunnel excavation was just 1.27 kms more of work before both ends of it meet. “We hope to achieve the target by July-August 2017,” he said.
Col Sanjay Thaplyal, Director Rohtang Tunnel, while speaking to Hill Post said that the approach road to the North Portal of the tunnel from Palachan is 14.8 kms has four snow galleries, one deflector wall and eight snow bridge, while on the approach to South Portal of the tunnel there were five snow galleries and snow protection structures.
Considered vital infrastructure, Rohtang Tunnel would not only provide year around road connectivity to Lahaul with rest of the country, it will also open up additional access to Ladhak. Presently the only road to Ladhak passes through Kashmir and is very close to the Line of Control with Pakistan, where it lies exposed to cross border shelling.
Cost of about 8.8 km Rohtang Tunnel project has been estimated at Rs 4,083 crore.
Sanjay Dutta, an engineer by qualification but is a journalist by choice.
He has worked for the premier new agency Press Trust of India and leading English daily Indian Express.
With more than a decade of experience, he has been highlighting issues related to environment, tourism and other aspects affecting mountain ecology.
Sanjay Dutta lives in a village close to Manali in Kullu valley of Himachal.
bawaal updates ! simply fatafati tunnel. Wish the other 3 to ladakh starts off immediately.
Great article. I could never find such indepth coverage of rohtang tunnel while i was searching it on the net. ??U should also cover banihal to quzigund tunnel.