Finally, after ten years and over Rs.4, 000 (Rs. Four thousand) Crore the Tunnel was opened.
That’s the good news. Not so good news is that disaster looms on the
horizon.
Without a doubt the Tunnel is a feat of engineering. It is 9.2 km. long, the
world’s longest and highest at over 3,000 meters above sea level.
It is 10.5
meters wide with a one meter wide footpath on either side. Traffic flows in
both directions. There will be 4G network providing BSNL mobile network and
high speed internet connectivity.
Fire hydrants every 60 meters, emergency exits every 500 meters, turning
facilities every 2.2 kilometers.
Automatic incident detection system with CCTV cameras
every 250 meters. Air quality monitoring every one kilometer.
No mention
of an exhaust system. With hundreds of vehicles in the tunnel,
carbon monoxide will be an
ever present danger.
One of the most important facilities has not been mentioned. Toilets.
There can be emergencies. From babies to the elderly and every one in between
needs to answer
the call of Nature. There could be cases of travel sickness, vomiting and something no one has any control over, claustrophobia.
What is this? An extreme and irrational
fear of confined spaces. People may yell, scream,
open the car doors and try to jump out of the car!
Another important question. Is there an M.I.Room, a trauma center,
doctors on duty around the clock? Ambulance?
What are the
precautions to be taken in case of life threatening situations?
Indians have an utter disregard for their personal
safety. In the first 24 hours of the tunnel
opening there were three
accidents. All for the same reason. Taking selfies!
What
will be the punishment for such stupidity?
This is a very special
tunnel, the only one of its kind
in the world, as such regular
road rules cannot apply.
If the truth be told, International Traffic
Rules do not apply in India. We have the most indisciplined and irresponsible drivers
in the world. This is the reason for India leading the world in road
fatalities.
Only extreme penalties may be a deterrent. Confiscation
of the vehicle, revoking driving license, barred from using tunnel.
By their bravado and sheer foolishness of speeding,
overtaking, stopping to take selfies these hooligans are endangering the lives of
innocents. They are a danger and menace to society.
These activities may be considered as ’premeditated
murder’. That's exactly what it is!
Authorities
should nip this evil in the bud before it becomes a fun game in a new and fancy
playground.
A problem that has already raised its ugly
head. No facilities like toilets for the tourists. This is what destroyed
Rohtang. The entire mountain was a toilet! The same is going to happen here. There
are also no garbage collection centers.
Chandermohan Parsheera, Professor of Tourism at
Himachal Pradesh University and a native of Lahoul says," For the last
eight years, we have been demanding toilets and other wayside amenities like
dustbins but nothing has happened!". In 10 years BRO built a 9.2 kilometers
long tunnel. In 8 years Himachal Government could not built a single toilet!
That's Tourism in Himachal. They don’t have a notion
of what tourism is about. Just let the hordes in, take their money and let them
ravage, rampage and rape the countryside.
Himachal has amongst some of the highest peaks
in the Himalaya and snow fields larger than some countries in Europe like Austria
and Switzerland, yet these two countries have some of the best ski slopes in the
world. Himachal does not have even one ski slope! They have failed to see,
appreciate and harness Nature’s Bounty, which they have in abundance.
Other than skiing which should be a natural
pastime in Himalaya's snow clad slopes, hang gliding during the summer months offers
world class locations. High rocky cliffs that heat up and provide thermals,
sharp drops that are perfect launch pads. They don't even need an expensive
infrastructure.
Just drive up to the launch pad and jump! All
these facilities exist and can be exploited without much expense. All ignored!
There is another life threatening situation
that can possibly arise.
Maybe never, but the authorities should be
prepared.
It’s like a fire extinguisher. Keep one handy
at all times hoping never to use it.
Keeping in mind that many tourists will be
coming from cities at sea level, there is a danger.
I know from personal experience. I was
on a motoring expedition on the Manali-Leh road with Israelis. They all live at
sea level. Just driving around circuitously in the mountains with sharp drops
and a gushing river made them dizzy, disorientated and slowed reflexes. This is
vertigo.
The Israelis are all exceptionally fit having
spent three years in the defense forces. An overweight Seth ji could be affected!
The points I have raised here are all valid
and must be addressed.
The above peace that you have just read was
written a couple of weeks ago.
Within a week of the tunnel opening reports
came in of garbage piling up and people defecating and urinating in the open.
This was bound to happen in the absence of no toilet facilities.
The rape of Lahaul has started! This was only
the trailer. Wait till spring and summer for the full movie, color by
Technicolor and a cast of thousands.
The Administration is asleep with its eyes
wide open.
One of the enclosed photograph shows the unregulated, unorganized tourist traffic going upto the Rohtang Pass. If steps are not taken immediately the Atal Tunnel will end up like this!