The Author is Former Director General of Information Systems and A Special Forces Veteran, Indian Army

On October 14, 2021, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over the breakthrough blast of the main tube of Sela Tunnel being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Addressing the BRO personnel via Video Conference, Rajnath Singh said, “This state-of-the-art tunnel will prove to be a lifeline for not just Tawang but the entire state. The tunnel will not only strengthen national security, but also augment the transportation facilities for the local people and consequently, boost their socio-economic conditions.”

The Defence Minister also said, "The breakthrough blast of the Sela main tunnel shows your (BRO's) hard work and your commitment towards the country's security and socio-economic development." Flagging off a motorcycle expedition, he also said, “75 personnel of the BRO and the Army will participate in the motorcycle expedition that will cover a distance of 20,000 km passing through many states and union territories.

The tunnel will not only strengthen national security, but also augment the transportation facilities for the local people and consequently, boost their socio-economic conditions

Progress of the Sela Tunnel Project has been as under:

• February 2018 - Project was announced in the 2018-19 Union Budget.
• February 2019 - Foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sela Tunnel was 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 inspected the progress of the work on 4 September 4, 2020 and expressed happiness to notice the progress and hoped all work will be completed by end of 2021.
• July 2021 – Blast of the escape tube of under construction Sela Tunnel was conducted virtually by the Director General Border Roads (DGBR) completing excavation of the 980 metre escape tube to facilitate faster completion of Sela Tunnel by undertaking simultaneous activities in two-way tube of 1,550 metres besides 8.8 km of approach roads.

In the 2018-19 Union Budget, former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced the Centre's plan to build a tunnel through Sela Pass, located at an elevation of 13,800 feet, which will ensure a faster movement of troops in Tawang, a strategically-located district bordering China. The longer of the two bi-lane tunnels is 1,550 metres while the other is 980 metres. The longer tunnel has two tubes, the main one and an escape one for emergency use. The 1,550 metres tunnel located in Nuranang between the Tawang and West Kameng districts will cut down the distance to Tawang by six km and the travel time by at least an hour. The main tunnel has an overhead clearance of 5.5 metres and about 3,000-4,000 vehicles are expected to use the tunnel on daily basis.

The longer of the two bi-lane tunnels is 1550 metres while the other is 980 metres. The main tunnel has an overhead clearance of 5.5 metres and about 3,000-4,000 vehicles are expected to use the tunnel on daily basis

Under construction at an altitude of 13,500 feet with latest Austrian technology and outlay of over 7,000 crore the Sela Tunnel is an engineering marvel. Likely to be completed in July 2022, it will provide all-weather connectivity and swifter military deployment to the Tawang and the Kameng regions. The tunnel project is being implemented by a battery of about 50 engineers and 500-600 labourers. The tunnel is being excavated below the 4,200 metres (13,800 ft) Sela Pass on NH 13, part of the trans-Arunachal 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.

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 km to the west of the Sela Pass. It will enhance the India Military’s capabilities in combating the threat from China's Western Theatre Command in the Eastern Sector and help make the NH 13 an all-weather road to access Tawang which usually gets disconnected during winter. The tunnels will ensure that the 171 km road between Bomdilla and Tawang remains accessible in all weather conditions. BRO is also improving the road from Sangestar Tso (north of Tawang) to Bum La Pass. NH 13 has been converted to two-lane road.

It will enhance the India Military’s capabilities in combating the threat from China's Western Theatre Command in the Eastern Sector and help make the NH 13 an all-weather road to access Tawang

China has been illegally claiming Tawang on the pretext that pilgrims from Tibet have been visiting the ancient Buddhist Monastery of Tawang. This is absurd logic on two counts: first, China is in illegal occupation of Tibet, and; second, if pilgrimage is the basis of China’s claim then all areas up to Lake Mansarovar and Mount Kailash should be vacated by China being annually annual pilgrimage for Indians plus Mount Kailash being the abode of Lord Shiva.

In 2005, China suddenly expanded its illegal claim from the Tawang Plateau to the entire State of Arunachal Pradesh. After the aggression in Eastern Ladakh last year, China has mobilised troops all along the border and has been attempting transgressions in Arunachal Pradesh and elsewhere. Completion of the Sela Tunnel will not only provide all weather connectivity to the strategically important regions of Tawang and Kameng but also prove to be a boon for tourist to visit these exotic locales round the year.