A look at the longest high-altitude road-tunnel

The tunnel - named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee - is expected to be inaugurated soon by Prime Minister Modi.

Building a 8.8 kilometer tunnel that eases access in to Ladakh, especially under the weather conditions prevalent in the area was not an easy task, involving building drains and battling heavy snow.

The Atal-Rohtang tunnel is strategically important for India as it allows all-weather access for India’s forces to Lauhaul - an important outpost - and cuts the supply route by over 40 kilometers.

Situated at 10,000 ft, the tunnel is subjected to heavy winds and sleet but has many contingencies in the 10 metre wide area - including a smaller emergency tunnel below that connects to the main one via stairs.