Sela Tunnel will bring all out development in Arunachal-Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnatha Singh on Thursday presided over the breakthrough blast of the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. Addressing the event through a video conference in New Delhi, Singh lauded the Border Roads Organization for its commitment towards the country's security and socio - economic development. He said, the organization is true to its motto - Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam that everything is achievable through hard work. The Minister said, the tunnel will work to strengthen the socio-economic condition of the citizens by bringing a big change in the transport facility. He said, this will also strengthen the national security. Singh said, the Sela Tunnel will prove to be the lifeline of the entire Arunachal Pradesh including Tawang in the coming times.

The Sela Tunnel will provide all weather connectivity to Tawang through the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang Road. It will help in quicker mobilisation of troops by reducing the time of journey from Sela Pass to Tawang and forward locations bordering Tibet Autonomous Region by over an hour.Even during peak winter when the Sela Pass is snow-covered, access to Tawang will not be hindered after the construction of the Tunnel.  It will cover about 20,000 kilometres in passing through many states and Union Territories of the country.On completion, Sela Tunnel will be the longest bi-lane road Tunnel in the world at an altitude above 13,000 feet.
The Defence Minister also flagged off a motorcycle expedition of the Border Roads Organization from the National War Memorial in New Delhi. He said that the personnel of the 75 Border Roads Organization, Indian Army and General Reserve Engineer Force will be participating in the motorcycle expedition

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, Director General Border Roads Lt General Rajeev Chaudhry and other senior civil and military officials of the Ministry of Defence were present on the occasion