Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a day-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday, inaugurated the world’s longest twin-lane tunnel, named ‘Sela Tunnel’. The inauguration ceremony took place in Itanagar as part of the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit North East’ program. Additionally, PM Modi launched several other developmental projects in the state, including the UNNATI scheme worth ₹10,000 crore.
The Sela Tunnel, situated at an elevation of 13,000 feet, was built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at a cost of ₹825 crore. It comprises two tunnels, with Tunnel 1 spanning 1,003 meters and Tunnel 2 being a 1,595-meter twin-tube tunnel. The project also includes two roads measuring 8.6 km, designed to accommodate a traffic density of 3,000 cars and 2,000 trucks per day, with a maximum speed limit of 80 kmph.
This tunnel holds significant strategic importance as it provides all-weather connectivity to Tawang, a region bordering China. It is expected to reduce travel time to Tawang by at least one hour, facilitating faster deployment of resources to forward areas near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The foundation stone for the Sela Tunnel project was laid by PM Modi in February 2019. Despite delays due to various reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the completion of this project underscores India’s efforts to bolster border infrastructure and enhance connectivity in remote regions.
In addition to the inauguration of the Sela Tunnel, PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for several other development projects in Arunachal Pradesh, totaling nearly ₹55,000 crore. These projects encompass various sectors such as rail, road, health, housing, education, border infrastructure, IT, power, oil and gas, among others.
Furthermore, PM Modi virtually inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth crores in Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Tripura. These initiatives aim to drive economic growth, attract investment, and create employment opportunities in the Northeast region.
Following his visit to Arunachal Pradesh, PM Modi is scheduled to return to Assam to participate in additional events, including the inauguration of the 125-foot tall statue of legendary Ahom general Lachit Borphukan at Jorhat. He will also address a public rally in Meleng Meteli, where several projects valued at nearly ₹18,000 crore will be inaugurated by the central and state governments.
GrabGossip – your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.
