CONSTRUCTION OF ATAL TUNNEL

Abstract

Atal tunnel is the world’s longest highway tunnel at an altitude of about 10,000 feet from the Mean Sea Level (MSL). It was formerly known as the Rohtang tunnel and was renamed after India’s former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The length of the tunnel is 9.02 Km. It is also the longest bi-directional, single tube roadway tunnel of India and a project of great strategic importance. It is built with modern technologies and specifications in the Pir Panjal Range of Himalayas. The construction method for this tunnel is based on the philosophy of NATM. During construction of this tunnel, the team faced many challenges, unexpected difficulties like sudden collapse, ingress of water from pores of rocks etc. The team overcame such difficulties by solving the challenges using different methods. This paper will briefly give an overview of the strategic importance of the tunnel, geology of the site, construction technologies implemented, challenges faced during constructions and how the team overcame those.