Prime Minister inaugurates Sela Pass tunnel project in Arunachal Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sela Tunnel project in Arunachal Pradesh. Valued at Rs 650 crores, the Sela Tunnel stands as a testament to India's unwavering commitment to fortifying border security and fostering regional economic growth. Under Project VARTAK of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the tunnel was constructed by Patel Engineering, incorporating advanced engineering techniques to overcome environmental and geographical challenges. The project includes the construction of a main tunnel T1 spanning a length of 1003.34 m and a main tunnel T2 spanning a length of 1594.38 m having an escape tunnel of 1584.38 m and a road spanning about 8.7 km.

Notably, the Sela Tunnel stands as the world's longest bi-lane road tunnel at an elevation exceeding 13,500 feet. This visionary infrastructure development not only facilitates the seamless deployment of troops and heavy weaponry by the Indian military to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China but will also help the locals of Arunachal Pradesh who earlier used to be disconnected from the rest of India during winter months, underscoring Patel's dedication to supporting the government's focus on bolstering security and boosting economic development.

Rupen Patel, Chairman & Managing Director, Patel Engineering Limited said, “We are truly honoured to be entrusted with this prestigious project, and we extend our sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi for this opportunity and trust. The Sela Pass project holds paramount importance for India's growth, and we consider ourselves fortunate to be associated with such a pivotal initiative that aligns seamlessly with our commitment to contributing to India’s growth story. Patel Engineering is dedicated to focusing on hydropower, irrigation and tunnelling projects, leveraging our strong order book, and bringing our unparalleled expertise in infrastructure to the forefront.”