Why in the News?

The officials from BRO (Border Roads Organization) recently announced that they have almost finished about 96 percent of the work on the strategically important Sela Tunnel. It's expected to be officially opened by the end of this year.

About Sela Tunnel Project:

• Location: Situated in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• When it's finished, the Sela tunnel will be the world's longest two-lane tunnel, located at an altitude above 13,000 feet.
• Its purpose is to provide year-round connectivity between Guwahati in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
• This tunnel is being constructed underneath the Sela Pass as part of NH-13, a segment of the Trans-Arunachal Highway system.
• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is responsible for its construction under Project Vartak, which began on April 1, 2019.
• Project Details:
• Tunnel 1: This tunnel is 980 meters long and has a single tube.
• Tunnel 2: A two-lane tunnel that spans 1555 meters, equipped with an emergency escape tunnel.
• Roads: The road leading to Tunnel 1 is 7100 meters long, the road connecting the two tunnels is 1340 meters long, and the road leading to Tunnel 2 is 340 meters in length.