It is a pleasure to travel in a cab or in your vehicle, which allows you to explore the vibrant surroundings. The journey that takes hundreds of kilometers is often eased by long tunnels.
The country hosts some of the most exotic tunnels in the world that you would love to drive through. Driving through these passages would be thrilling as well as an intriguing experience.
So here are the 5 longest tunnels in India that would make you kick-start your engines
1. Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Road Tunnel
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Road Tunnel is currently the longest road tunnel in use in India. It was inaugurated in 2017. The tunnel connects the Chenani and Nashri areas of Jammu and Kashmir in India.
The tunnel stretches about 9.34 kilometers and is located at a height of about 4000 feet above sea level. The tunnel has helped to reduce the travel time between the capitals, Jammu and Srinagar. It is also one of the widest tunnels, with a diameter of 13 meters.
2. Atal Road Tunnel
It is practically impossible that any person who loves to travel has not heard of this tunnel yet. Located in the state of Himachal Pradesh, the Atal Tunnel was earlier known as the Rohtang Tunnel.
Later, it was named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former PM of India. It is the longest high-altitude tunnel in India. Its prime objective was to reduce the distance between Manali and Keylong.
The tunnel is 8.8 kilometers long and at an altitude of 3000 meters.
3. Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel
Another North Indian tunnel that makes it to the list is the Banihal Qazigund Road tunnel of Jammu and Kashmir. The construction of the tunnel was started in 2011 and was inaugurated in August 2021 by Union Railway Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The tunnel is situated at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level, and its length is approximately 8.5 kilometers. It has resolved the problem of the transportation of food during the winter season in the Banihal region.
The tunnel is well equipped with modern amenities like jet fans, CCTV cameras, and a firefighting system.
4. Zoji-la Tunnel
This tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir is still under construction and is expected to be operational by June 2022. The construction of this 14.2-kilometer-long tunnel was started in 2018 and is believed to be the longest bi-directional road tunnel in Asia.
This would enable travelers and locals to cross the Zoji-la pass in just 15 minutes compared to the 3 long hours it takes right now.
Moreover, this will also help supply food items and other essential products to the defense personnel, as it is located quite near the Line of Control (LoC).
5. Sela Tunnel
The only tunnel of the Northeastern region in this list is the Sela Tunnel. Its construction was completed by the end of 2022. After becoming operational, it runs through the Sela Pass in Arunachal Pradesh over a length of approximately 12.04 kilometers.
This tunnel is a great initiative to reduce the travel time between Dirang and Tawang. It will have twin tunnels of lengths of 1790 kilometers and 475 meters, respectively. It will definitely be a thrilling ride across them.
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