Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the strategically important Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh that connects Manali to the Lahaul-Spiti valley amid ongoing tensions with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The new tunnel named after former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is expected to reduce travel time to Leh (in the Union Territory of Ladakh) by up to five hours.
Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi described the moment as a “historic day” and said that the tunnel would strengthen India’s border infrastructure and hailed it as the realization of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision. PM Modi said that the Atal tunnel will give strength to India’s border infrastructure and is an example of “world-class border connectivity.