Sela Tunnel

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Context:

The strategically-significant Sela Tunnel project in Arunachal Pradesh is nearing completion.

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GS III- Indian Economy (Infrastructure)

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The Sela Tunnel Project is located West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, the tunnel project will provide an alternate axis to the Sela pass, which is at 13,700 feet. It will be on the BCT Road – the Balipara, Charduar and Tawang axis, which is more than 300 km long. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 700 crore.
The project, being executed by the Border Roads Organisation, includes two tunnels and a link road.
While Tunnel 1 will be 980 metres long single-tube, Tunnel 2 will be 1,555 metres with one bi-lane tube for traffic and one escape tube for emergencies running alongside.
The link road between the two tunnels will be 1,200 metres.
Tunnel 2 will be one of the longest tunnels to have been constructed above an altitude of over 13,000 feet.
The project also involves construction of an approach road of 7 km to Tunnel 1, which takes off from BCT Road, and a link road of 1.3 km, which connects Tunnel 1 to Tunnel 2.
The total length of the project, including the tunnels, the approach and the link roads, will be around 12 km.

All-weather connectivity to Tawang and other forward areas in the sector will be the most important advantage that the project promises.
The project will provide a new alignment on the axis towards the LAC, and allow movement of military and civil vehicles all through the year.
ime that will be saved during travel, it is the ability to cross the area during winters that matters the most.

China is undertaking massive infrastructure development and troop build-up in the Rest of Arunachal Pradesh (RALP) area.
In military parlance, the RALP is an area in Arunachal Pradesh other than the Kameng area.
Other than the Kameng area consisting of East and West Kameng districts, the rest of the State is referred to by the Army as the RALP.

-Source: Indian Express