The world’s longest bi-lane tunnel project, Sela Pass, was constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Project Vartak at an altitude over 13,000 ft above sea level and at a cost of Rs.8.25 billion to enhance all-weather connectivity and facilitate rapid military deployment to Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang and Kameng regions along the China frontier. With considerable experience and a stellar track record in managing complex large-scale projects, Patel Engineering was chosen to execute the project. Weather conditions in the region are so harsh that temperatures plummet to as low as -20°C, causing diesel to freeze, and heavy snowfall and landslides on the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang Road posed challenges. The enormity of the task can be judged by the fact that it required over 9 million man-hours with an average of 650 workers contributing daily for five years. Also, 71,000 metric tonne of cement, 5,000 metric tonne of steel and 800 metric tonne of explosives were used for construction.

The significance of Sela

“The project is distinguished by several unique features,” says Kavita Shirvaikar, Managing Director, Patel Engineering, about its USP adding, “It ensures all-weather connectivity between Guwahati in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, providing a vital passage even during harsh winter conditions, avoiding the challenges of snow clearance and facilitating year-round. Strategically located near the Sino-India border, the tunnel enables swift movement of troops, weapons and machinery, thereby enhancing connectivity and security in the region, which is crucial for defence logistics.”

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