Journey through Tezpur, Tawang, and Sela Pass.
Tezpur, situated in the Sonitpur district of Assam, is a town located on the Brahmaputra River, 175 kilometers northeast of the Assam Capital Guwahati. It is the largest city on the north bank of the river.
Tawang is a town and the administrative center of Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh, India. It is located on the NH-13 section of the Trans-Arunachal Highway. Previously serving as the capital of the Tawang Tract, it is now divided into Tawang district and West Kameng district, with Tawang remaining the headquarters of the former. Tawang is the most popular tourist destination in Arunachal Pradesh.
In 1951, India took control of Tawang and ousted Tibetan governance from the region. China maintains its claim over Tawang, considering it as part of its territory. Located at an altitude of around 3,048 meters (10,000 ft), Tawang is situated 448 km northwest of the state capital Itanagar. It is positioned north of the Tawang Chu river valley and approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of the Line of Actual Control with China.Tawang’s lowest temperature is 0 degrees Celsius and its highest temperature is 21 degrees Celsius.
Sela Pass is a high-altitude mountain pass located in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It stands at an elevation of approximately 4,170 meters (13,680 feet) above sea level. The pass is known for its stunning views of snow-capped mountains and pristine natural beauty, making it a popular tourist destination.The distance between Tawang and Sela Pass is approximately 72 kilometers and distance between Tezpur and Sela Pass is approximately 255 kilometers.The summers at Sela Pass are not very cold, temperature in winter can dip down to -10 degree Celsius
"Achieving Year-round Connectivity to Tawang"
The Sela Tunnel, built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at an elevation of approximately 13,000 feet and costing Rs 825 crore, was intended to ensure year-round connectivity to the Tawang region via Sela Pass on the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang (BCT) Road. This road links Tezpur in Assam to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
The distance between Tezpur to Tawang is approximately 327 kms
Tezpur serves as the headquarters for the Indian Army's IV Corps, responsible for overseeing Assam and the western regions of Arunachal Pradesh.
Present Connectivity Status
Currently, there are two distinct routes linking Tezpur and Tawang: Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang (BCT) and Orang-Kalaktang-Shergaon-Rupa-Tenga (OKSRT), which intersect at Sela Pass before converging into a single route leading to Tawang.
Two alternative routes to Tawang are in planning stages, with one route still in the initial planning phase.
The current Tezpur to Tawang route includes three main passes: Nechiphu, Bomdila, and Sela. While the road via Bomdila remains accessible year-round, Nechiphu is prone to foggy conditions and Sela often experiences snowfall, potentially blocking off access to Tawang.
The construction of the Sela Tunnel will significantly enhance India's readiness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), facilitating rapid military deployment to the Tawang sector and reducing the road distance by around 10 kilometers. This translates to saving nearly an hour of travel time for convoys. Moreover, the tunnel will enable the transportation of heavy artillery guns.
This development follows the opening of the Nechiphu tunnel in September, which was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Both the tunnels would provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang, bypassing the foggy stretches on Nechiphu and the snow on Sela passes, together cutting down distance by about 15 km, thus aiding faster military deployment to Tawang.
The Sela project comprises of two tunnels and a connecting road.
? The first tunnel is 980m in length,
? while the second tunnel is a twin tube tunnel with one tube for traffic and an escape tube for emergencies.
? The link road connecting the two tunnels is 1,200m long.
? Tunnels exceeding 1500m in length are required to have an escape passage adjacent to them.
? The overall length of the project, including the tunnels, access roads, and linking roads, will be approximately 12 km.
Project Significance
1. The project is significant because it will reduce travel time between Tezpur and Tawang by at least one hour and provide all-weather connectivity
2. Currently, Sela pass closes for several winter months due to heavy snowfall, creating logistical challenges for military and civilian vehicles
3. The tunnel allows for faster deployment of weapons and soldiers to the Line of Actual Control and forward areas in the Tawang sector
4. The tunnel will keep the road open year-round, ensuring continuous access
5. The local population of Tawang will no longer be isolated from the rest of the region