Manali (Atal tunnel, Rohtang)

The Atal Tunnel, also known as the Rohtang Tunnel, is a 9.02 kilometer long highway tunnel in the Himalayas that connects Manali to Lahaul-Spiti valley. Here are some facts about the tunnel:
Construction
The tunnel was built under the challenging conditions of freezing temperatures and difficult terrain. The foundation stone was laid in 2010, and the tunnel was inaugurated in 2020 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Name
The tunnel was originally called the Rohtang Tunnel, but was renamed in 2019 to honor former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Significance
The tunnel connects a large part of Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Leh-Ladakh to the rest of the country. Before the tunnel, the Lahaul-Spiti valley was cut off for about six months each year due to heavy snowfall.
Features
The tunnel has a semi-transverse ventilation system, telephones every 150 meters, fire hydrants every 60 meters, emergency exits every 500 meters, and air quality monitors every kilometer.