Atal Tunnel To Boost Strategic Movements And Logistics In Ladakh Sector
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang at an altitude of above 10000 feet in Himachal Pradesh. Upon the inauguration’s completion, Modi said the tunnel would provide “new strength” to the country’s border infrastructure.
The area is remote high altitude mountainous region and sparsely populated. Such a passage not only gives a tremendous boost to the connectivity of the entire region but also boosts the military capabilities in forward areas. This tunnel has been built mainly for military purposes with aim to reduce time taken for military logistics to reach Chusul, Nyoma and up to Leh starting from Pathankot.
With the Atal Tunnel opened, Indian troops can be deployed to the border, while the transportation of military supplies could go through this tunnel on daily basis. Its construction has greatly reduced the distance from the plains to high altitude areas in Ladhak. Its usefulness as both as a logistic readiness tunnel and strategic movement has clear strategic significance to India.
The tunnel will be of great help to the annual military winter logistical stocking and provision of supplies in peacetime; However, in wartime, especially if military conflict breaks out, this route will act as an alternate route, thus permitting various options. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has no means to make this tunnel unserviceable as all kinds of active and passive defences have been catered for.
This tunnel will also give a huge boost to tourism in Lahul, Spiti and entire Ladhak. Once we get back Mansarovar after evicting the PLA from Nagri region, then this tunnel will prove a big boon.
It is better for China to coexist peacefully with both Tibet and India. China should take steps to pull out from Occupied Tibet and give the Tibetan people full freedom. China must restrain itself and refrain from provocation as no amount of propaganda can enhance China’s combat capability against India.
China should realize that there is no gap in combat effectiveness between China and India, especially in terms of India’s systematic combat capability. China should mind it’s own business.
After the Chinese backstabbing in 1962, India took time to build up its forces. However till 1971 it had to concentrate on Pakistan. Now since 2010, it has been stepping up its construction of roads, bridges and other infrastructure along the China-India border. The Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi (DSDBO) road — 255 kilometres long — was completed last year after nearly two decades of construction.
The road winds its way through the mountains to the Ladakh region. In addition to these roads, the Indian government has identified 73 strategic roads along the China-India border that they will continue to build throughout the upcoming winter months.
The construction of these “battle-ready” roads are proceeding at full speed, because of three practical factors. The first is the determination of the Indian government. From the perspective of the Modi government, their determination to strengthen military presence along China-India border is an established fact.
The second factor is the budget. India is now ramping up its budget and spending on infrastructure, in an attempt to counterbalance China.
The third factor is technology; India’s infrastructure capacity is gaining strength day by day. In fact, the concept of also building a rail link right up to Leh from both sides that is ZoziLa in Kashmir and Rohtang in Himachal is taking shape already.
India has learnt a lot after building the extensive Delhi Metro Rail project network since last 20 years.
The very fact that the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, the Global Times has written an article on ATAL TUNNEL, it proves that this tunnel is if great significance and has rattled the PLA completely.
