By: ML Verma
Shimla: Congress Party supremo and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is to lay the foundation stone of Rohtang Tunnel project, proposed to connect Kullu district with Lahaul valley and to provided round-the-year road connectivity to Ladakh and Kargil for safeguarding the country’s borders.
In a press statement released here today, Union steel minister Virbhadra Singh disclosed that the stone of the Rohtang tunnel near Manali is to be laid by UPA chairperson on June 28, 2010. He said that Union defense minister AK Anthony, and chief minister of J&K Omar Abdullah are also likely to attend the function. The cabinet committee of Union government has approved Rs 1,495 crore for the project.
It is worthwhile to mention here that Rohtang-Keylong road is opened for vehicles, whereas road beyond Keylong to Leh is still to be cleared by Border Road Organization.
