PM Narendra Modi Scheduled to Inaugurate Strategic Sela Tunnel During Arunachal Visit on March 9

On March 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to Arunachal Pradesh for a day-long visit to officially open various development projects, such as the Sela Tunnel that would connect Tawang, which borders China, to the rest of the world regardless of weather.

PM Modi will dedicate the tunnel to the country at an event to be held at Baisakhi in the West Kameng district, according to an official on Wednesday.

According to the source, he will also set the groundwork for over 20 development projects before moving on to Assam, a neighbor.

Situated at an elevation of 13,000 feet, Tawang, in Arunachal Pradesh, will have all-weather access thanks to the Sela Tunnel. According to an official, the tunnel’s strategic significance stems from its close proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The tunnel, which is close to Sela Pass, was necessary because snowfall and landslides brought on by intense rains force the Balipara-Charidwar-Tawang Road to stay blocked for a significant portion of the year.

By facilitating the quick deployment of soldiers, equipment, and weaponry to the forward areas along the Sino-India border, the tunnel will improve the capabilities of the Indian army at the Los Angeles–China Canal.

PM Modi laid the project’s foundation in February 2019 with an estimated cost of Rs 697 crore; however, work was delayed for a number of reasons, including the COVID-19 epidemic.

There are two tunnels in the project. The first tunnel is 980 meters long and has a single tube, while the second tunnel is 1.5 kilometers long and has an escape tube for emergencies.

Chinese and Indian forces engaged in combat in the area in 1962; of note, Tawang town was taken over on October 24 of that year.