Itanagar: Built at a total cost of Rs 825 crore at an altitude of 13,000 feet, the Sela tunnel, inaugurated today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, connects Tezpur, Assam to Tawang in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. It is set to provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang across Sela Pass on the Balipara – Chariduar – Tawang Road,4 boosting the preparedness of the Armed Forces and augmenting the socio-economic development of the border region.
Modi virtually dedicated to the nation the Sela Tunnel project during the Viksit Bharat Viksit North East programme in Itanagar today.
The Sela Tunnel has been constructed using the new Austrian Tunnelling Method and incorporates safety features of the highest standards. The project will not only provide a faster and more efficient transport route in the region but is of strategic importance to the country.
The foundation stone of the tunnel was laid by the Prime Minister on February 9, 2019, and the construction commenced on April 01, 2019. The tunnel has been completed in five years overcoming challenges of difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
Always at the forefront of the development of the border areas, the BRO has completed a record 330 infrastructure projects constructed at the cost of Rs 8,737 crore in the last three years.
In his address, the Prime Minister voiced the government’s commitment to the development of the Northeast region. He said the Sela Tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity and improve the ease of travel for the people of Tawang. Work on many tunnels is going on in the region, he mentioned.
The Prime Minister criticised the earlier neglect of the development of the border villages. He claimed that his style of working was as per the needs of the nation and not for electoral considerations.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju were among the dignitaries present during the inauguration ceremony.
– global bihari bureau
