President Murmu to visit world’s longest highway tunnel, attend AIIMS Bilaspur convocation during 3-day visit to Himachal

President Droupadi Murmu will visit Atal Tunnel in Rohtang described as the worldrsquos longest highway tunnel above 10000 feet during her threeday visit to Himachal PradeshMurmu will begin the visit on Tuesday with the first convocation of AIIMS Bilaspur and a visit to the to the tunnel among her key engagementsMurmu will attend the inaugural convocation of AIIMS Bilaspur as the chief guest Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda are also scheduled to attend the ceremonyThe convocation marks a significant milestone for the institute and its first batch of MBBS students who have completed their medical education there The President is expected to confer degrees and honour the graduating doctors for their academic achievementsMurmu to visit Atal Tunnel on October 7Following her Bilaspur engagement Murmu is scheduled to travel towards Manali On October 7 she will visit the Hidimba Temple and the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang in LahaulSpiti district as part of her official programmeThe Atal Tunnel provides allweather connectivity between Manali and the Lahaul Valley and serves as a strategically important infrastructure link in the regionMurmursquos visit comes after her proposed visit to the tunnel during an earlier Himachal Pradesh tour in April was cancelled because of adverse weather conditionsSecurity and traffic arrangements have been strengthened in Bilaspur and along the Presidentrsquos proposed routes Authorities have reviewed preparations covering security traffic management parking medical services drinking water electricity and emergency responseMurmu is scheduled to conclude her Himachal Pradesh visit on October 8 and return to New DelhiAIIMS Bilaspur was inaugurated in 2022Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated AIIMS Bilaspur on October 5 2022 He had also laid the foundation stone of the institute in October 2017 under the Central sector scheme Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha YojanaThe institute was built at a cost of more than Rs 1470 crore and has 18 speciality and 17 super speciality departments It has 18 modular operation theatres and 750 beds including 64 ICU beds across its 247acre campusThe hospital provides roundtheclock emergency and dialysis services It also conducts health camps in inaccessible tribal and high Himalayan areas including Kaza Saluni and KeylongAIIMS Bilaspur admits 100 students for MBBS courses and 60 students for nursing coursesAtal Tunnel provides yearround connectivityThe Atal Tunnel inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on October 3 2020 connects Manali with the LahaulSpiti Valley throughout the yearThe 902km tunnel is described as the worldrsquos longest highway tunnel above 10000 feet Before its construction heavy snowfall would cut off the Lahaul Valley for nearly six months every yearBuilt through the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas the tunnel is located at an altitude of about 3000 metres above mean sea level It reduces the road distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km and cuts travel time by around four to five hoursThe South Portal is around 25 km from Manali at an altitude of 3060 metres while the North Portal is near Teling village in Sissu in the Lahaul Valley at 3071 metresThe horseshoeshaped singletube doublelane tunnel has an eightmetre roadway and an overhead clearance of 5525 metres It has been designed to handle around 3000 cars and 1500 trucks a day with a maximum speed of 80 kmphWith inputs from IANS