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'''Sela Tunnel''' is an under-construction road tunnel at {{convert|3000|m|ft}} which will ensure all-weather connectivity between [[Guwahati]] in [[Assam]] and [[Tawang Town|Tawang]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Arunachal Pradesh]]. The tunnel is being excavated below the {{convert|4200|m|ft}} [[Sela Pass]] in India on [[National Highway 13 (India)|NH 13]] component of [[Trans-Arunachal Highway]] system. It will be connected with NH 13 by a new 12.4 km road and will reduce the distance between [[Dirang]] and Tawang by 10 km. It has a 3-year target target completion date of Feb 2022 after the construction commenced in 2019.<ref name=bizstd1/> The tunnel will provide access to Tawang by an all-weather road in the western region of Arunachal Pradesh throughout the year.

The project provides for two tunnels of 1,790 m and 475 m lengths and an escape tube of 980 m.

==Strategic importance==
This strategic tunnel is being constructed by the [[Border Roads Organisation]] (BRO) under Project Vartak. It will enhance [[Indian military]]'s capabilities in combating the threat of China's [[Western Theater Command]] opposite India's eastern sector of [[Line of Actual Control]]. It will cut the travel time from the [[Indian Army]]'s [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]] headquarter at [[Tezpur]] to Tawang by at least 10 km or 1 hour and also help make the [[National Highway 13 (India)|NH13]] an all-weather road to access Tawang which usually gets disconnected during winter.<ref name=bizstd1/> The tunnels would ensure that the 171 km road between [[Bomdila]] and Tawang remains accessible in all weather conditions.

BRO is also improving the road from [[Sangestar Tso]] (north of Tawang) to [[Bum La Pass]] on India-China [[Line of Actual Control]] (disputed parts of [[McMahon Line]]).<ref name=bizstd1/> NH13 has been converted to 2-lane road.<ref name=bizstd1/>

Sela pass is located at 4,200 m<ref name=bizstd1/> but the two tunnels are located at the height of 3,000 m (10,000 feet). The tunnel cuts through Sela-Chabrela ridge. A new greenfield road 12.37 km long from the tunnel will meet the existing Balipara-Chaudur-Tawang road on the Nurarang side and the hairpin bends to the Sela Pass will be avoided. The tunnel constructed using the latest New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) is much below the snow line allowing all weather travel without the challenges of snow clearance.

The tunnel will add to the tourist potential of Tawang and attract more tourists making Tawang a more popular destination in North East region.

==Status updates==
* February 2018: Project announced in 2018-19 union budget.<ref name=sela1>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/budget-2018-live-updates/liveblog/62733507.cms Sela pass tunnel], [[The Economic Times|Economic Times]], 1 Feb 2018.</ref>
* February 2019: Foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tunnel to be ready in three years by Feb 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/pm-modi-inaugurates-sela-tunnel-project-in-arunachal-pradesh-119020900558_1.html|title=PM Modi inaugurates Sela tunnel project in Arunachal Pradesh|date=February 9, 2019|via=Business Standard}}</ref><ref name=bizstd1>[https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/work-for-construction-of-sela-tunnel-to-start-soon-dgbr-118112101081_1.html Sela tunnel construction to start soon], Business Standard, 21 Nov 2018.</ref>
* September 2019: Construction of approach road was ongoing and tunnel boring commenced by month end.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/sep/20/work-on-important-sela-tunnel-connecting-with-tawang-to-begin-by-september-end-2036434.html|title=Work on important Sela tunnel connecting with Tawang to begin by September end|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
* September 2020: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister inspected the progress of the work on 4 Sep 2020 and said that "Happy to notice the work progress, all work will be completed by end of 2021."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arunachalobserver.org/2020/09/05/sela-pass-tunnel-to-be-ready-by-2021-cm/|title=Sela Pass tunnel to be ready by 2021: CM|date=September 4, 2020}}</ref>
* July 2021: Excavation of the 980 m escape tube was completed in July 2021.<ref>https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1737878</ref> This will facilitate faster completion of Sela Tunnel by undertaking simultaneous activities in two-way tube of 1,555 m besides 8.8 km of approach roads.

==See also==
* [[Tawang#TR|Bhalukpong-Tawang railway]], under-construction
* [[Arunachal Frontier Highway]], proposed along Indo-China LOC in upper Arunachal Pradesh
* [[East-West Industrial Corridor Highway, Arunachal Pradesh|East-West Industrial Corridor Highway]], proposed in lower foothills of Arunachal Pradesh
* [[Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region#Projects|Northeast Connectivity projects]]
* [[India–Myanmar barrier#Look-East Connectivity|Look-East Connectivity projects]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{coord missing|Arunachal Pradesh}}

[[Category:Road tunnels in Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Proposed road infrastructure in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures under construction in India]]
[[Category:Tawang district]]
[[Category:West Kameng district]]

Sela Tunnel - Revision history

imported>Arjayay: Duplicate word removed