World's longest highway tunnel, Atal Tunnel, inaugurated

The world’s longest highway tunnel above 10,000 feet, the Atal Tunnel, connecting Manali to Leh, was inaugurated today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The tunnel has brought hopes for the people of Lahaul who remain cut-off from the rest of the state for around six months in winters due to closure of 13,058-feet-high Rohtang Pass in the wake of heavy snowfall. The journey from Manali Valley to Lahaul and Spiti Valley, which normally takes around five hours, would now be completed in little over ten minutes. Let's take a look at some of the key features and strategic advantage of the Atal Tunnel.