Sela Tunnel

Sela Tunnel is a road tunnel at 3000 m which ensures all-weather connectivity between Guwahati in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. This tunnel is the longest bi-lane tunnel in the world at 13,000 feet. Situated 400 metres below the Sela Pass, the Sela Tunnel offers a vital passage, even during the winter season. The tunnel helps them move troops, weapons, and machinery quickly along the Sino-India border. It is connected with NH 13 by a new 12.4 km road and has reduced the distance between Dirang and Tawang by 10 km. It was inaugurated by PM Modi on 9 March 2024. Executed by the Border Road Organisation (BRO), the project features two tunnels and a link road. Tunnel 1 is a 980-metre-long single-tube tunnel, while Tunnel 2 is a 1,555-metre-long twin-tube tunnel, with one bi-lane tube for traffic and the other for emergency services. The link road between these tunnels spans 1,200 metres. The tunnel provides access to Tawang by an all-weather road in the western region of Arunachal Pradesh throughout the year.

Etymology


During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, Maha Vir Chakra awardee Jaswant Singh Rawat held elements of the Chinese Army off at this mountain pass with the help of two local Monpa girls named Sela and Noora. Later, Sela was killed and Noora captured. Rushing from position to position, Rawat held off the enemy for 72 hours until the Chinese captured a local supplier, who told them that they were facing only one fighter. The Chinese then stormed Rawat's position and Rawat was killed. The Indian army built Jaswant Garh war memorial for Jaswant Singh and the pass, tunnel & lake were named after Sela for her sacrifice. The tunnel is also named after her. Nuranang Falls, north of Sela Tunnel and 2 km east of Jang, are named after Nura.

Location
The Sela Tunnel cuts through the Sela–Charbela ridge, which separates the Tawang district from the West Kameng district (Dirang Circle). It is located a few kilometres to the west of the Sela Pass. The tunnel runs at an elevation of 3000 m, in contrast to the Sela Pass at 4200 m. It avoids the winter snowfalls on the Sela Pass in addition to cutting down the travel time to Tawang by an hour.

The project in fact involves two tunnels. The first tunnel, 475 m long, cuts through a longitudinal ridge entering it at 27.4994°N, 92.0938°W. After emerging, a second tunnel, 1790 m long, runs through the main Sela–Chabrela ridge at 27.5073°N, 92.0827°W. The two tunnels together bypass the Sela Pass and maintain an elevation of 3000 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 headquarter at Tezpur to Tawang by at least 10 km or 1 hour and also help make the NH13 an all-weather road to access Tawang which usually gets disconnected during winter. The tunnels would ensure that the 171 km road between Bomdila and Tawang remains accessible in all weather conditions.

The 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). NH13 has been converted to 2-lane road.

Sela pass is located at 4,200 m 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.
 * February 2019: Foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tunnel to be ready in three years by February 2022.
 * September 2019: Construction of approach road was ongoing and tunnel boring commenced by month end.
 * September 2020: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, inspected the progress of the work on 4 September 2020 and said that "Happy to notice the work progress, all work will be completed by end of 2021."
 * July 2021: Excavation of the 980 m escape tube was completed in July 2021. 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.
 * March 2024: PM Narendra Modi dedicated the tunnel to the nation before a rally in Arunachal Pradesh.