SELA TUNNEL

1. The Sela Tunnel project was virtually inaugurated in March 2024 by the Indian Prime Minister during the Viksit Bharat Viksit North East program in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
2. Background: The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone on February 2019. Despite challenges like tough terrain and bad weather, the tunnel was completed in just 5 years.

1. Location: Situated in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, located on the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang (BCT) Road.

About Sela Tunne

1. The tunnel was built with a total expenditure of Rs 825 crore.
2. Connectivity: Situated at an elevation of 13,000 feet, the tunnel links Tezpur, Assam to Tawang in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
3. Technology Used: Constructed using the Austrian Tunnelling Method and it includes top-notch safety features.
4. Benefits: Enhances transportation by offering a quicker and more efficient route, which holds strategic significance for India.
5. All-Weather Connectivity: It ensures year-round access to Tawang through Sela Pass on the Balipara–Chariduar–Tawang Road in the Northeast region.
6. Military Significance: The tunnel enables quicker movement of the military to Tawang where the Indian Army's IV Corps is based which ensures fast deployment along the border.
7. Operational Benefits: By avoiding foggy areas at Nechiphu and snowy terrain at Sela Pass, the tunnel shortens travel distance by nearly 10 km and travel time by about an hour for convoys, improving logistical efficiency.
8. Project Details: Tunnel 1: Single-tube tunnel, 980m in length and Tunnel 2: Bi-lane tunnel, 1555m in length, including one escape tube for emergencies.

Geopolitical Context

1. Strategic Considerations: Tawang's location near the Brahmaputra plains and its connection to Tezpur in Assam strengthen India's military stance.
2. Historical Significance: Tawang is historically and culturally important as the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama and a significant center of Tibetan Buddhism, enhancing its strategic value.
3. Security Imperatives: Due to China's claims over Tawang and Arunachal Pradesh, India reinforces its military presence and infrastructure to protect its sovereignty.

About the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM)

1. NATM is also referred to as the Sequential Excavation Method (SEM) or Sprayed Concrete Lining (SCL) Method.
2. A Modern Tunneling Approach: NATM is a contemporary (modern) technique for designing and building tunnels.
3. Working: It utilizes advanced monitoring to adjust various wall reinforcement (increase strength) methods based on the rock type encountered during tunnelling.
4. Significance: NATM offers an economic benefit by utilizing the natural strength of surrounding rock to stabilize the tunnel, minimizing the need for large-scale reinforcement.

About the Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

1. Formation: Established in 1960 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to fortify India's borders and develop infrastructure in remote northern and northeastern regions.
2. Under Authority Of: Ministry of Defence.
3. Over the past 3 years, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) completed a record 330 infrastructure projects, costing over Rs 8,700 crore.

(Q.) Which method was used for the construction of the Sela Tunnel project in Arunachal Pradesh?

(A) The Sequential Excavation Method (SEM)

(B) The Cut and Cover Method

(C) The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Method

(D) The Drift and Fill MethodTop of Form

(Ans) A

(Soln)

Key Facts

• The correct answer is option a) The Sequential Excavation Method (SEM).
• The passage mentions that the Sela Tunnel project was constructed using the Austrian Tunnelling Method, which is also known as the Sequential Excavation Method (SEM) or Sprayed Concrete Lining (SCL) Method.
• This method involves excavating the tunnel in sequential steps while supporting the exposed ground with sprayed concrete to prevent collapse.

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