Tunnel is a word which may sound quite common but it has it’s own importance. The ones who can realize its importance are the local people who have not been able to go from one end to another for several years due to various distractions and the Army with places of strategic importance. The date of October 3, 2020 will go down in the history books as one of the golden days of the country, as PM Narendra Modi Ji dedicated the world's longest highway Tunnel (9.02 kms long), Atal Tunnel (situated 10,000 feet above the sea level), to the country. According to the Hindi language, Atal is the one who is irrevocable and the destiny is that the Tunnel is named after one such statesman who according to his name is ‘Atal’ and ‘Amar’.
The fond memories of 3 June 2000 still come to my mind when the Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then General Minister of BJP and Himachal In-charge Sh. Narendra Modi, the then CM Prem Kumar Dhumal were attending an event and there Tushi Dawa (Arjun Gopal Ji), a very dear friend of Atal Ji, once again requested him for a tunnel to be made which connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh and Atal Ji immediately ordered to make the tunnel.
आर्थिक व सामरिक रूप से अटल टनल कितनी और क्यों महत्वपूर्ण है ,इस बारे में पंजाब केसरी दैनिक समाचार पत्र ने श्री @ianuragthakur के विचारों को अपने सम्पादकीय पृष्ठ पर विशेष स्थान दिया है..
— Office of Mr. Anurag Thakur (@Anurag_Office) October 8, 2020
पढ़ें👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/1QeR4Lnx70
Atal Ji had a special bonding with Himachal Pradesh and he usually came to Manali to spend his holidays. Numerous friends and party workers used to come to meet him from Manali and other nearby places. Tushi Dawa Ji who belonged to Tholang Village came to meet him every time. Once he requested Atal Ji for a tunnel to be made and pointed out that it takes a lot of time to come to Manali crossing the Rohtang Pass and he should think about this. Today 20 years after his announcement, when Atal Ji would be watching this grand construction from the heavens he would feel utterly proud of his inheritance.
As per the strategic vision, Himachal Pradesh is one of the most important states of the country and the NDA Govt. has always wrked towards the development of Himachal, be it Former PM Atal Ji or Modi Ji. Both of them have believed that Himachal has been their second home and the credit for both the strategic and economic development behind this tunnel goes to these two leaders.
The tunnel made after trimming off the Peer Panjal Mountain peaks will not only help in reducing the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 kms plus it will serve as an alternative route to the Rohtang Pass situated on 13,050 feet. This double lane tunnel has cost 3300 crore rupees. There is a telephone after every 150 metre and water hydrant facility at every metre and there is an emergency exit after every 500 metres.
After the start of Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, there will be a rapid rise in Tourism, Horticulture and Agriculture in Himachal. Till now the Tourism season lasted for a few months. Atal Tunnel will provide a new power to the Infrastructure, Farmers, Army and the youth of Himachal Pradesh. The tunnel made after pennetrating the impregnable mountain has been a huge resolution. Atal tunnel will now serve as the lifeline of Leh-Laddakh and it will help in connecting the people of Himachal and Laddakh forever.
The slogan of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ flourishing through everyone’s trust. Now under the Modi Government, the policies are not made on the basis of the area where the votes are maximum but the effort is to reach out to the last person in the row and that nobody remains behind in the path of development.
The Author Sh. Anurag Thakur is the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs and a recipient of 'Champions of Change Award 2019'
Courtesy: Punjab Kesari
