Bilaspur/Manali: President Droupadi Murmu is undertaking a three-day visit to Himachal Pradesh from Tuesday, with the first convocation of AIIMS Bilaspur and a visit to the strategically important Atal Tunnel at Rohtang among the key engagements on her itinerary. The President’s Secretariat has confirmed that her visit will continue from October 6 to 8.
The President will attend the first convocation of AIIMS Bilaspur as the chief guest on October 6. AIIMS Bilaspur has also officially announced that its first convocation is being held on Tuesday, with President Murmu as the chief guest.
Governor of Himachal Pradesh Kavinder Gupta, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda are scheduled to attend the ceremony.
The convocation marks an important milestone for the institute and its first batch of MBBS students who have completed their medical education at AIIMS Bilaspur. The President is expected to confer degrees and honour graduating doctors for their academic achievements.
President Murmu to Visit Atal Tunnel on October 7
After her Bilaspur engagement, President Murmu is scheduled to travel to Manali. On October 7, she will visit the Hidimba Temple and the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang in the Lahaul-Spiti region, according to the official programme.
The Atal Tunnel provides all-weather connectivity between Manali and the Lahaul-Spiti Valley and is an important infrastructure link in the region.
The President’s visit comes after her proposed visit to the tunnel during an earlier Himachal Pradesh tour was cancelled because of adverse weather conditions.
Heavy security and traffic arrangements have been put in place in Bilaspur and along the President’s proposed travel routes. Authorities have reviewed arrangements covering security, traffic management, parking, medical services, drinking water, power supply and emergency preparedness.
President Murmu is scheduled to conclude her Himachal Pradesh visit on October 8 and return to New Delhi.
AIIMS Bilaspur: Key Details
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of AIIMS Bilaspur on October 3, 2017, and inaugurated the institute on October 5, 2022.
The institute was established under the Central sector scheme Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).
AIIMS Bilaspur was constructed at a cost of more than Rs 1,470 crore. The state-of-the-art hospital has 18 speciality and 17 super-speciality departments, 18 modular operation theatres and 750 beds, including 64 ICU beds.
Spread over 247 acres, the institute has 24-hour emergency and dialysis facilities. It also provides specialist health services through health camps in inaccessible tribal and high Himalayan regions such as Kaza, Saluni and Keylong.
The institute admits 100 students to MBBS courses and 60 students to nursing courses.
Atal Tunnel Connects Manali With Lahaul-Spiti
The Atal Tunnel, built under the Rohtang Pass in the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas, is 9.02 km long and provides year-round connectivity between Manali and the Lahaul-Spiti Valley. The tunnel was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 3, 2020.
It is officially described as the world’s longest highway tunnel above 10,000 feet. The tunnel was built at an altitude of around 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) above mean sea level.
Before the tunnel was constructed, the Lahaul Valley remained cut off for around six months every year because of heavy snowfall. The tunnel has provided all-weather connectivity and reduced the road distance between Manali and Leh by 46 km, cutting travel time by around four to five hours.
The South Portal is located around 25 km from Manali at an altitude of 3,060 metres, while the North Portal is near Teling village in Sissu in the Lahaul Valley at an altitude of 3,071 metres.
The tunnel is a horseshoe-shaped, single-tube, double-lane tunnel with an 8-metre roadway and an overhead clearance of 5.525 metres. It was designed to handle a traffic density of around 3,000 cars and 1,500 trucks per day, with a maximum speed of 80 kmph.