The avalanche protection structure built near Dhundi

MANALI: The much-awaited Rohtang tunnel , which would provide all-weather connectivity to tribal Lahaul-Spiti and Pangi regions of Himachal Pradesh and to the Ladakh region, is yet to be completed and is not expected to meet the December deadline .

The strategically-important tunnel is expected to take at least one more year to be completely ready even though the Border Roads Organisation ( BRO ) is confident that it would be opened for general traffic in December.

A lot of work is still to be done even if concrete work is completed by December — electrical fittings, installation of security cameras at regular intervals inside the 8.8km tunnel, sensors to check pollution, ventilation system, fire hydrants, speakers for emergency announcements and telephone boxes will take a long time. The installation of electric fittings is a multi-crore project and will incorporate auto-dimming lights to save power consumption.

To make matters worse, approach roads to the tunnel on both the sides are prone to landslides and avalanches. These roads needed to be secured for safe and smooth movement all year round in the area. The tunnel project was proposed way back in1983. Rohtang pass, located 51 km from Manali, is on an altitude of 3,978m (13,044 ft) and with climate changes it is proving to be difficult to maintain connectivity in the region due to heavy rains in monsoon season and in winters due to snowfall, high velocity winds and sub-zero temperatures.

BRO to build 12 structures for avalanche shelter

When the digging of the Rohtang tunnel started in 2011, it was claimed the project would be completed in 2015, but geological challenges forced the deadline to be extended by four more years and now work is expected to continue next year too. Initial Rs 1,355cr cost of the Rohtang tunnel project has already exceeded Rs 4,083cr.

There are over a dozen landslide- and avalancheprone areas between Manali and south portal of the tunnel and between Keylong and north portal of the tunnel. Traffic generally remains affected towards the tunnel on both the sides during monsoon and winter seasons. Over 40 small and large avalanche-prone areas have been identified on approach roads to the tunnel and a dozen of them are a serious threat to the traffic.

The engineers of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have to build 12 avalanche-protection structures to secure the approach roads to the tunnel. However, only two such structures, designed by Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), have been completed till now.

The then BRO directorgeneral Lt Gen RM Mittal had made this commitment during his visit to the tunnel in November 2015. The remaining structures are expected to take over a year to be completed.

On the landslide front, in Manali, the mountain face is continuously sliding and the road at Beas Bridge near the town has been sinking continuously for over a year now. Nehru Kund, about 6km from here, is a major landslide zone on the approach road to the tunnel. This affects movement of traffic every year. This zone is an old avalanche-prone area but excessive cutting of the mountain for widening of the road made it unstable. Huge boulders and tonnes of debris along with trees frequently block the highway.

There are five major bridges between Manali and south portal of the tunnel and two of them are in a dilapidated condition. Two new bridges are being built but may take a long time to complete. A 206m-long bridge, built at cost of Rs 10.56cr near the tunnel at Dhundi, at elevation of about 9,500ft, has been completed.

Securing the northern mouth of the tunnel from avalanches and boulders is one of the most challenging parts of the project. The opening of the tunnel in Lahaul is where the mountain face is steep, slippery and without vegetation and is blocked by avalanches after snowfall every year.

Floods and cloudbursts are also a problem as nullahs of Lahaul valley block the approach road to the tunnel due to unseasonal flooding. In August too, floods in Pagal nullah near Sissu blocked the highway multiple times.

