Ignoring Chinese Protests, PM Modi Lays Foundation Stone For All-Weather Se La Tunnel In Arunachal Pradesh

Despite staunch protests from China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone of the all-weather tunnel at Se La, a crucial mountain pass connecting Tawang to the rest of Arunachal Pradesh, reports Times of India.

The Se La project is strategically important and would take three years to be completed by the Border Road Organisation (BRO), TOI quoted senior officials as saying. The tunnel could facilitate faster movement of troops to the border.

"The project covers a distance of 12.04 km, consisting of two tunnels of length 1,790 m and 475 m respectively. Once completed, it will reduce the time between Tezpur and Tawang significantly and could avoid the dangerous snow-covered Sa La top at the height of 13,700 feet, " the official said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that the Chinese position on the issue is consistent and clear-cut. “The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh’ and is firmly opposed to the Indian leader's visit to the East Section of the China-India boundary.

Another official having served significant postings at Se La stated that the road connecting Tenga to Tawang is "a perpetual struggle” for military convoys as it is blocked most of the time due to landslides and other factors. The proposed all-weather tunnel is expected to give Indian military a strategic thrust against China in the region.