India has taken a number of steps to ramp up infrastructure along its border with China in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang and Western Kameng regions. In order to strengthen all-weather connectivity and fast military deployment in the regions Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is working to complete the Rs 700 crore Sela Tunnel Project before the August deadline next year.

The project, the foundation stone for which was laid in 2019, covers a total distance of 12.04 kms which consist of two tunnels of 1790 and 475 meters.​ Once completed, the project will provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang and forward areas. ​It will also reduce travel time from Tezpur to Tawang by an hour. ​Travellers would be able to avoid the dangerous snow-covered Sela top at a height of 13,700 feet.​

The Sela Tunnel Project will be the longest bi-lane tunnel project in the world located at an altitude of 13,000 upon completion. The longest tunnel has two tubes, the main one and an escape one for use during emergencies.

The project is of strategic importance to Indian forces as it will cut the distance to the China border through Tawang by 10 km. Also, the existing 317-km Bilapara-Chardur-Tawang road passes through the Sela Pass at an altitude of 13,800-feet which is visible to the Chinese from the Line of Actual Control — which is disadvantageous to Indian forces. The new tunnel will pass under the Sela Pass.   

Also, the existing BCT road gets blocked frequently for military and civilian traffic during three months in winter and requires massive snow-clearing activity. The Sela Tunnel is much below the snow line which will allow all-weather access. The overhead clearance in the tunnel is high which will military vehicles to pass through it. This shall allow troops and heavy artillery guns to be quickly transported to Tawang from 4 Corps headquarters in plains of Assam.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually conducted the final breakthrough blast of the main tunnel to mark the end of its excavation.