BRO to build tunnels on Bomdila-Tawang road

ITANAGAR: The Border Roads Organisation in Arunachal Pradesh is proposing to construct tunnels at Bomdila-Tawang road in order to bypass the Sela Pass located at an altitude of over 14,000 feet.

42 BRTF Commander R S Rao on Monday called on Chief Minister Pema Khandu and briefed him about the road development work being taken up by the BRO on the strategic Bomdila-Tawang road, an official communique said today.

Two tunnels that are proposed would bypass Sela Pass by nearly 10 km, which is expected to curtail travel time to Tawang by one hour.

It would also provide an all-weather road since during winter, the pass remains covered in snow, making travel difficult.

An approach road to the entry of the first tunnel (500m) will take off at 229 km point, while the entry to the second tunnel (1450m) from the exit of the first tunnel will be joined by another approach road.

The approach road from the exit from the second tunnel will finally meet the existing Tawang road at 247.5 km point.

Bypassing of Sela pass would make the motorable journey easier letting tourist inflow even during harsh winter when the pass remains cut off due to heavy snowfall.

The BRO official briefed the chief minister on the issue of land acquisition on the Sela-Kela-Rama Sapper camp under Dirang subdivision.

He informed the chief minister that latest technology in cement carpeting was being used for re-carpeting of roads in the area which can withstand harsh weather conditions and have a life of more than 25 years.

Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin, who was part of the briefing, suggested provision for laying of optical cable fibre along the highway so that later inconvenience could be overcome.

Khandu has decided to visit the proposed site later this month, the communique added.