5 longest rail and road tunnels in India

Railways and roads are the most common modes of transportation for the common man in India. The country is known for its roads and railway tunnels, an affordable option to make places more accessible to people. Listed here are the top five longest rail and road tunnels in India:

Atal Tunnel, formerly known as the Rohtang Tunnel, is a 9.02 km long high-altitude tunnel, named after former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The construction of this tunnel began in the year 2010, and was completed and inaugurated on October 3, 2020.

This is the longest railway tunnel in the country, measuring 11215 m (11.215 km). Also known as the T-80, Pir Pranjal runs through the heart of the Himalayas and is set at an altitude of 36795 ft. It was inaugurated in the year 2013 and it takes a train approximately nine minutes to cross this tunnel.

This one is the longest road tunnel measuring 9.34 km. The tunnel is known by many names including Chenani Nashri Tunnel, the Patnitop Tunnel and the Syama Tunnel. The tunnel was inaugurated in the year 2017 and it features two tubes running in parallel directions.

Next in the list is the Trivandrum Port Railway Tunnel in Kerala, which is 9.02 km long. Currently under construction, the tunnel will become the second largest railway tunnel in the country. It is expected to be completed in 2022.

Set at an altitude of 1800 m, the Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel is 8.5 km long and comprises two tubes running parallel to each other. The tunnel has been under construction since 2011 and is expected to begin its operation in 2021.