The world's longest twin-lane tunnel, known as the Sela Tunnel, was officially opened on Saturday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is now visiting Arunachal Pradesh. The PM attended the "Viksit Bharat Viksit North East" program's launching event in Itanagar. In addition, PM Modi initiated a number of additional state-wide development initiatives, like as the ₹10,000 crore UNNATI programme.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) created the ₹825 crore Sela Tunnel, which is located at an elevation of 13,000 feet. The project consists of two tunnels: Tunnel 2 is a 1,595-meter twin-tube tunnel and Tunnel 1 is 1,003 metres long. Additionally, two 8.6-kilometer roads are part of the project. With a maximum speed of 80 kmph, the tunnel is intended to handle 2,000 trucks and 3,000 automobiles every day. The tunnel is important because it will connect Tawang, which borders China, to the rest of the world in all weather. Additionally, it will save at least an hour's worth of travel time to Tawang, enabling the quicker deployment of troops, equipment, and weaponry to advanced regions close 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. It is believed that the "Sela Tunnel" project would advance both the socio-economic growth of the area and the nation's defence readiness.
PM Modi laid the project's foundation in February 2019, however the Covid-19 outbreak was one of the many reasons why the development was delayed.
