Work will soon begin on the 8.8km Rohtang tunnel project in Himachal Pradesh, India, which is expected to be completed in 2015.

Touted to be longest tunnel when it is completed, the Rohtang tunnel will be built at a height of over 13,000ft.

The project, worth INR 14.95m ($327m), will be delivered by Austrian company Strabag and India’s Afcons.

The tunnel will help to link Lahaul Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh with the Ladakh region of J&K, which remains cut-off for over six months during the winter months.

The tunnel will also serve as an alternative route to the Ladakh region from J&K and is expected provide an all-weather road link to the Rohtang Pass.