Shimla, April 20 -- The Centre has given the Forest (Conservation) Act clearance for construction of another strategic tunnel, one that will bypass the 16,615-ft (5,091 m) high Shinku La, connecting Ladakh to Himachal.

The 4.1-km long proposed tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity from Manali to Leh via the Nimu-Padum-Darcha road, an important defence axis. Once complete, it will be world's highest highway tunnel, surpassing the Atal Tunnel, also located on the Manali-Leh Highway

The tunnel will cut the distance between Manali and Leh by 60 km, bringing it down from 355 to 295 km. It is an alternative to the Manali-Leh-Kargil route.

The south portal and about 3.8 km of the tunnel are under Himachal and the north portal and part ...