Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Sela tunnel is world’s longest twin tunnel.
2.Sela tunnel was constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM).
3.Sela tunnel aims to facilitate the movement of goods for international trade.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanation –
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the strategically significant Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. The tunnel is situated at an altitude of 13,700 feet in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, on the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang road connecting Tezpur (Assam) to Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh). It is world’s longest twin tunnel built at an altitude of above 13,000 feet. The tunnel was constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM). It is the highest tunnel in the country. It provides all-weather connectivity to Tawang via the Sela Pass, as well as to other nearby areas along the border with China near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Statement 3 is incorrect. Sela Tunnel has immense strategic value for India, providing all-weather connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh and the Tawang region, bordering China. This enhances the Indian military’s ability to move troops and equipment quickly. It also improves connectivity for the local population and aids in the economic development of the region. However, facilitating the movement of goods for international trade is not the aim of the tunnel.
Source: Forum IAS
