Arunachal Pradesh: PM Modi inaugurates strategically significant Sela Tunnel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dedicated to the nation the Sela Tunnel built at an altitude of 13000 feet in Arunachal Pradesh that will provide allweather connectivity to strategically located Tawang and is expected to ensure better movement of troops along the frontier regionThe Rs 825 crore tunnel constructed on the road connecting Assams Tezpur to West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh is being billed as the longest bilane road tunnel in the world at such an altitudeThe Sela Tunnel will provide for better movement of troops and weaponry to various forward locations along the Line of Actual Control LAC with China according to military officialsThe prime minister virtually inaugurated the tunnel project during the Viksit Bharat Viksit North East programme in ItanagarIn Delhi the defence ministry said the tunnel will provide allweather connectivity to Tawang across Sela pass on the BaliparaChariduarTawang road boosting the preparedness of the armed forces and augmenting the socioeconomic development of the border regionIn his address Modi voiced the governments unwavering commitment to the development of the Northeast region and said the Sela Tunnel will provide allweather connectivity and improve the ease of travel for the people of TawangWork on many tunnels is going on in the region he added according to a statement released by the defence ministryModi criticised the earlier neglect of the border villages and reiterated his style of working is as per the needs of the nation and not for electoral considerationsThe prime minister promised the defence personnel that he would come to meet them at this engineering marvel in his next termArunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju were among the dignitaries present during the inauguration ceremonyThe Sela Tunnel has been constructed using the new Austrian tunnelling method and incorporates safety features of the highest standardsThe project will provide a faster and more efficient transport route in the region and prove to be of strategic importance to the country the ministry said in a statementThe foundation stone of the tunnel was laid by Modi on February 9 2019 and the construction commenced on April 1 that yearThe tunnel built by the Border Roads Organisation BRO has been completed in just five years overcoming challenges of difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions the ministry saidThe BRO has always been at the forefront of the development of the border areas the ministry saidIn the last three years the BRO has completed a record 330 infrastructure projects constructed at a cost of Rs 8737 crore it saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever