PM Modi to inaugurate world’s longest bi-lane Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the Sela Tunnel to the nation on March 9 during his day-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh. Built at a cost of ₹825 crore, the tunnel has been constructed on the road connecting Tezpur to Tawang bordering China. The tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to the region.

The Sela Tunnel is situated at an elevation of 13,000 feet and holds great importance due to its proximity to the Line of actual control (LAC), PTI quoted an official as saying. Once completed, the Sela tunnel will be the world’s longest bi-lane tunnel.

Besides the Sela Tunnel, Prime Minister Modi will also lay the foundation stone for around 20 development projects in Arunachal Pradesh, before proceeding to the neighbouring state of Assam.

Executed by the Border Road Organisation (BRO), the project consists of two tunnels and a link road. The first is a single-tube tunnel having a total length of 980 metres, while the second tunnel is 1,555-metre in length with one bi-lane tube for traffic and the other one for emergency services. Between these two tunnels, the link road will be 1,200 meters long, The Indian Express reported.

The foundation stone of the Sela Tunnel project was laid by Prime Minister Modi on February 9, 2019.

Located near Sela Pass, the tunnel was required as the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang Road in the region remains closed for a long period of the year due to snowfall and landslides caused by heavy rainfall in the state.

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