PKH Singh, ADG of the Border Roads Organisation (East) recently inspected the progress of the Sela Tunnel Project in Arunachal Pradesh. Upon arrival, Singh was given a briefing by Brigadier Raman Kumar, Chief Engineer of the project, and traveled on the final alignment of the project, which had been completed just hours before his visit. A spokesperson for the defense department stated that Singh praised the site team for their efforts in overcoming inclement weather and challenging terrain. Singh is also inspecting other critical roads in the west Kameng and Tawang regions during his tour.
The Sela Tunnel Project, located in the West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh, is expected to be a lifeline for the region, providing all-weather connectivity to Tawang. The project consists of two tunnels: Tunnel 1, a 980-meter single tube tunnel, and Tunnel 2, a 1555-meter twin tube tunnel with one lane for traffic and one escape tube for emergencies. It will also be one of the longest tunnels to be constructed at an altitude of over 13,000 feet. In addition to the tunnels, the project includes the construction of an approach road of seven kilometers to Tunnel 1 and a link road of 1.3 kilometers connecting Tunnel 1 to Tunnel 2.
The foundation stone for the project was laid by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, and excavation work on Tunnel 1 began on January 15, 2021 after the first blast was conducted by the DGBR. On October 14, 2021, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh marked the end of excavation on Tunnel 2 with a breakthrough blast at the India Gate through an e-ceremony.
Source: The Economic Times
