sela tunnel: India’s strategic Sela tunnel near China border: All you need to know | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday presided over the final breakthrough blast of the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh through a video conference.
The tunnel, located near China border, is expected to give India strategic heft by facilitating faster movement of its troops.
Here are key things to know about the tunnel …
* The tunnel goes through Sela Pass and is expected to cut down the distance to China border through Tawang by 10 km.
* It is located on the border between the Tawang and West Kameng districts of Arunachal.
* The project consists of two tunnels. Tunnel 1 is 980 meters in length while tunnel 2 is a twin tube tunnel which is 1,555 meters in length.

* The tunnel would also cut down the travel time between the Army’s 4 Corps headquarters at Tezpur in Assam and Tawang by at least an hour.
* The Sela tunnel’s construction work is expected to be over by June 2022.

* The tunnel would ensure that National Highway 13, especially the 171-km stretch between Bomdila and Tawang, remains accessible in all weather conditions.
* In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the project. It will cost around Rs 687 crore.
* During the 1962 war, China’s invasion into India progressed swiftly after Sela was overrun by the PLA.
* “It (Sela Tunnel) will not only strengthen security but also connect far-flung areas, making it feasible for the people of West Arunachal to commute. It’ll increase tourism & improve economy,” DG BRO Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhary told news agency ANI.
(With inputs from agencies)