Sela Tunnel Project

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

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

Located in

• West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh
• Will provide an alternate axis to the Sela pass (at 13,700 feet)
• On the BCT Road – the Balipara, Charduar and Tawang axis (more than 300 km long)

Being executed by: Border Roads Organisation

• Includes two tunnels and a link road; Tunnel 2 will be one of the longest tunnels to have been constructed above an altitude of over 13,000 feet.
• The total length of the project, including the tunnels, the approach and the link roads, will be around 12 km.

Why does the project matter?

• All-weather connectivity to Tawang and other forward areas in the sector
• Will provide a new alignment on the axis towards the LAC, and allow movement of military and civil vehicles all through the year (Sela pass stays closed for a few winter months).
• Reduction in more than one hour of travel time from Tezpur to Tawang and travellers avoiding dangerous snow covered Sela top at a height of 13,700 feet.

All weather connectivity to Tawang would be a game-changer for the local population ahead of Sela apart from the much-required strategic edge for our security forces.