Sela Tunnel

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Sela Tunnel is an under-construction road tunnel at 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) which will ensure all-weather connectivity between Guwahati in Assam and Tawang in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The tunnel is being excavated below the 4,200 metres (13,800 ft) Sela Pass in India on NH 13 component of Trans-Arunachal Highway system. It will be connected with NH 13 by a new 12.4 km road and will reduce the distance between Dirang and Tawang by 10 km. It has a 3-year target target completion date of February 2022 after the construction commenced in 2019.[1] The tunnel will provide access to Tawang by an all-weather road in the western region of Arunachal Pradesh throughout the year.

The project provides for two tunnels of 1,790 m and 475 m lengths and an escape tube of 980 m.

Location[]

Sela Tunnel is located in Arunachal Pradesh
Sela Tunnel
Sela Tunnel (Arunachal Pradesh)

The Sela Tunnel cuts through the Sela–Charbela ridge, which separates the Tawang district from the West Kameng district (Dirang Circle). It is located a few kilometres to the west of the Sela Pass. The tunnel runs at an elevation of 3,000 metres (9,800 ft), in contrast to the Sela Pass at 4,200 metres (13,800 ft). It avoids the winter snowfalls on the Sela Pass in addition to cutting down the travel time to Tawang by an hour.[2]

The project in fact involves two tunnels. The first tunnel, 475 metres (1,558 ft) long, cuts through a longitudinal ridge entering it at

 WikiMiniAtlas
27°29′58″N 92°05′38″E / 27.4994°N 92.0938°E / 27.4994; 92.0938. After emerging, a second tunnel, 1,790 metres (5,870 ft) long, runs through the main Sela–Chabrela ridge at
 WikiMiniAtlas
27°30′26″N 92°04′58″E / 27.5073°N 92.0827°E / 27.5073; 92.0827. The two tunnels together bypass the Sela Pass and maintain an elevation of 3000 m.[2][3]

Strategic importance[]

This strategic tunnel is being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Project Vartak. It will enhance Indian military's capabilities in combating the threat of China's Western Theater Command opposite India's eastern sector of Line of Actual Control. It will cut the travel time from the Indian Army's IV Corps headquarter at Tezpur to Tawang by at least 10 km or 1 hour and also help make the NH13 an all-weather road to access Tawang which usually gets disconnected during winter.[1] The tunnels would ensure that the 171 km road between Bomdila and Tawang remains accessible in all weather conditions.

The BRO is also improving the road from Sangestar Tso (north of Tawang) to Bum La Pass on India-China Line of Actual Control (disputed parts of McMahon Line).[1] NH13 has been converted to 2-lane road.[1]

Sela pass is located at 4,200 m[1] but the two tunnels are located at the height of 3,000 m (10,000 feet). The tunnel cuts through Sela-Chabrela ridge. A new greenfield road 12.37 km long from the tunnel will meet the existing Balipara-Chaudur-Tawang road on the Nurarang side and the hairpin bends to the Sela Pass will be avoided. The tunnel constructed using the latest New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) is much below the snow line allowing all weather travel without the challenges of snow clearance.

The tunnel will add to the tourist potential of Tawang and attract more tourists making Tawang a more popular destination in North East region.

Status updates[]

  • February 2018: Project announced in 2018-19 union budget.[4]
  • February 2019: Foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tunnel to be ready in three years by February 2022.[1][5]
  • September 2019: Construction of approach road was ongoing and tunnel boring commenced by month end.[6]
  • September 2020: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, inspected the progress of the work on 4 September 2020 and said that "Happy to notice the work progress, all work will be completed by end of 2021."[2]
  • July 2021: Excavation of the 980 m escape tube was completed in July 2021.[7] This will facilitate faster completion of Sela Tunnel by undertaking simultaneous activities in two-way tube of 1,555 m besides 8.8 km of approach roads.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Sela tunnel construction to start soon, Business Standard, 21 Nov 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Sela Pass tunnel to be ready by 2021: CM". Arunachal Observer. 4 September 2020.
  3. ^ Sela tunnel: All-weather road brings Indian troops to China's doorstep; what you need to know, Firstpost 14 October 2021.
  4. ^ Sela pass tunnel, The Economic Times, 1 February 2018.
  5. ^ "PM Modi inaugurates Sela tunnel project in Arunachal Pradesh". Business Standard. 9 February 2019.
  6. ^ "Work on important Sela tunnel connecting with Tawang to begin by September end". The New Indian Express. 20 September 2019.
  7. ^ Last blast of Sela Tunnel’s escape tube conducted by DG Border Roads through video conferencing, Ministry of Defence Press release, 22 July 2022.

Coordinates: 27°30′26″N 92°04′58″E / 27.5073°N 92.0827°E / 27.5073; 92.0827

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