Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday reviewed the preparations for arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inauguration ceremony of Atal Tunnel Rohtang in a meeting with officers of district Lahaul-Spiti at Keylong.
Thakur said that construction of the Atal Tunnel Rohtang is finally complete and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Lahaul on October 3 to inaugurate it.
He said that the Tunnel is an important achievement from a strategic point of view for the Nation, besides this, the tunnel would also bring vital change in the socio-economic development of the people of the area. He said that new opportunities would emerge in the agriculture sector, tourism sector and horticulture sector with commencement of the Atal Tunnel, which would change the economy of the district.
The chief minister said that before the construction of Atal Tunnel, Lahaul Valley was closed for vehicular movement for about six months, due to bad weather conditions but now the people of Lahaul Valley will be able to have round the year transport facility.
He said the construction has fulfilled the long awaited dream of the people of Lahaul and there has been renewed enthusiasm for development in the entire region.
He said that the Tunnel not only symbolises development but is also a paradigm of technology for the world.
The CM directed the authorities to make special arrangements for the VVIP visits, keeping in view SOPs of the COVID-19.
Technical Education and Tribal Development Minister Ram Lal Markanda said that construction of the tunnel was a historic decision which would reduce the distance considerably and prove beneficial for the development of the tribal area of Lahaul-Spiti.