Prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced on 24th March that the Rs5 billion Rohtang tunnel project had been approved and decks had been cleared for starting the execution of the project in April 2002. The 9 km tunnel will be driven under the 4,000 m-high Rohtang pass, providing all-weather road to Lahaul-Spiti and Laddakh. 14/02.Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation stone of the 9 km Rohtang tunnel near Solang Nallah, on the Manalli-Leh road, considered to be the highest road link on earth. Project executed by Border Roads Organisation (BRO). 22/02.The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has signed a contract with SMEC International for the project's design of the 9 km Rohtang tunnel. Once the detailed report is ready, work will begin early next year on boring the tunnel to connect the Kullu valley to the snowbound Lahaul valley by an all-weather route instead of the present route through the 3,980 m-high Rohtang Pass that remains under snow for more than half of the year. The tunnel will also provide a better route to the landlocked Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir. Overlooking the popular resort town of Manali, the Rohtang tunnel will be located at around 2,900 m and will reduce the distance of the 480 km Manali-Leh road by 46 km. The environment clearance for the project has already been obtained. The BRO has already built 24 km of approach roads leading to both portals of the tunnel. The work on the tunnel is expected to finish by 2014. Read E-News Weekly 16/2005. Visit www.smec.com.au 28/06.