Arunachal Pradesh’s Sela Tunnel To ‘Bolster National Security’

Oct 15, 2021

In 2019, PM Modi had laid the foundation stone of the Sela Tunnel project to provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang through the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang Road. The breakthrough blast of the main tube of the tunnel marks the end of its excavation. Work on the 980m-long second tunnel of the project has already crossed the 700m mark.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the Sela Tunnel, located in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, will play a crucial role in bolstering nationalsecurity and ensuring socioeconomic development of the region.

Singh witnessed the breakthrough blast of the main tube of Sela Tunnel via video conferencing and flagged off ‘India @75 Motorcycle Expedition’ at an event organised by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in NewDelhi.

In 2019, PM Modi had laid the foundation stone of the Sela Tunnel project to provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang through the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang Road. The breakthrough blast of the main tube of the tunnel marks the end of its excavation. Work on the 980mlong second tunnel of the project has already crossed the 700m mark.

Sela Tunnel, constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method, is much below the snow line, allowing all-weather travel without the challenges of snow clearance. It will immensely benefit the people of Tawang as it will reduce travel time and ensure speedier movement across the Sela Pass.

Singh said the efforts of BRO to strengthen border infrastructure have enhanced the operational readiness of the armed forces, encouraged tourism in far-flung areas and generated employment for the local population. This state-of-the-art tunnel will prove to be a lifeline for not just Tawang but the entire state, he added.

Courtesy: ET