The Sela Tunnel – Importance and the strategic edge it promises

Why in news?

The strategically-significant Sela Tunnel project in Arunachal Pradesh is nearing completion.

What is Arunachal's Sela tunnel project?

• The Sela tunnel was announced by the government in 2018.
• It is a part of the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road, one of the key strategic projects near the Chinese border.
• It is located in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The project is being executed by the Border Roads Organisation,
• This will be the longest twin-lane tunnel above 13,000 feet in the world.
• The project includes two tunnels and a link road.
  • Tunnel 1 is 980m long
  • Tunnel 2 which is 1555m long is a twin tube tunnel.
  • Tunnel 2 has one bi-lane tube for traffic and one escape tube for emergencies.
  • The link road between the two tunnels will be 1,200 metres.
• Tunnels longer than 1500 m needs to have to have an escape passage alongside.
• The total length of the project, including the tunnels, the approach and the link roads, will be around 12 km.
• The tunnels are coming up through two ridges west of Sela.

Why is it so significant?

• It will cut down travel time to from Tezpur to Tawang by at least one hour as well as provide all-weather connectivity.
• At the moment, Sela pass stays closed for a few winter months due to winter and heavy snowfall.
• This poses serious logistics challenge for both military and civil vehicles.
• Now faster deployment of weapons and soldiers to the Line of Actual Control and forward areas in the Tawang sector can be made.
• Once the tunnel is ready, the road will remain open for 12 months of the year.
• The local population of Tawang will no longer get cut off from the mainland

Reference

1. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/sela-tunnel-project-arunachal-pradesh-importance-explained-7924404/lite/
2. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sela-tunnel-project-to-be-completed-by-yearend-101652639310065.html