Though the focus is currently on the construction of a nine-km-long Rohtang Tunnel, the Border Roads Organisation is also trying to draw the Government's attention on the need for simultaneous construction of two other tunnels -- Baralacha La and Tankhana La -- at a height of 16,000 to 17,000 feet on the same road. BRO engineers say the Rohtang Tunnel alone cannot solve the purpose of linking Leh with Manali with an all-weather road unless other tunnels also get the go-ahead.

However, before the Centre takes up the project issue, the BRO has already started gearing itself to get the funds granted. Its economic feasibility has been approved by at least six other agencies, including Railway India Technical and Economic Services. TheState wantsthe project to be exclusively funded by the Centre and the Ministries of Defence and Surface Transport have not yet worked out the exact modalities of the funding pattern. And PM Atal Behari Vajpayee, who visited Kullu on July 14, did not make any commitment in view of the model code of conduct.

Says Brigadier B M Bakshi: ``Chief engineers of the Deepak Project have all the designs and maps ready and we just need a few crores to start the work. A team of the Konkan Railway, which had submitted its report to the BRO in March 1998, showing its intentions to take up the work, is currently at the site to draw up an updated plan on the tunnel construction. The team's report is expected in the next 10-15 days.''