Page 47 - TT mag April 2024 Digital Edition

INFRASTRUCTURE
will not only facilitate smoother
movement of troops and supplies
but also reinforce India’s defence
capabilities in the region.
Sela tunnel was completed in
March 2024, in just five years after
overcoming challenges of difficult
terrain and adverse weather
conditions. The system consists of
two tunnels of lengths 1003m and
1595m respectively with 8.6Km
approach and link roads. The
second tunnel also has an escape
tube adjacent to the main tunnel
as per international norms. The
escape tube constructed parallel
to the main tube is connected
with cross passages every 500m.
In case of emergency, this escape
tube can be used for movement of
rescue vehicles and evacuation of
stranded people.
The tunnel has been
constructed using New Austrian
Tunnelling Method (NATM)
which is widely accepted and
used worldwide especially for
Himalayan geology. It is based on
the philosophy “Build As You Go”
and involves using the inherent
strength of the surrounding rock
mass to support the tunnel. The
execution of this mega project
took over 90 Lakh man-hours
THE ENORMITY OF THE
TUNNEL MAKING TASK
COULD BE JUDGED
BY THE USE OF 71,000
METRIC TONS OF
CEMENT, 5000 METRIC
TONS OF STEEL AND
800 METRIC TONS
OF EXPLOSIVE FOR
CONSTRUCTION. A
TOTAL OF 162 PLANTS
with an average of around 650
personnel and labours working AND MACHINERY WERE
every day for the last five years. ALSO DEDICATED TO THE
Various challenges were faced MAKING OF THE TUNNEL.
by Project Vartak of BRO during
the construction phase. These
included freezing temperatures
up to -10°C and formation of
icicles within, which caused Plan, as per IRC SP 91 and MoRTH
delay in the concreting process. Guidelines. The tunnel has state-
Ingress of water, cavity formation of-the-art safety features including
and restrictions due to COVID a ventilation system to maintain
also affected the construction air quality, fire-fighting devices,
of the tunnel. Due to the cloud CIE norms-based illumination
burst that occurred in July 2023, system and SCADA controlled
monitoring systems.
resources had to be augmented
for reconstruction of damaged Sela Tunnel will bring in overall
assets. Of the five years it development of the region. Earlier
took to complete the project, the route to Sela Pass had only single
approximately 762 days had high lane connectivity and treacherous
snowfall or rainfall and 832 days bends due to which heavy vehicles,
had temperatures below 0°C, container trucks and trailers could
creating immense challenges for not get to Tawang. Due to adverse
weather conditions, specifically in
the personnel executing the work. winters, evacuation of patients
However, BRO was able to was adversely affected along
complete the tunnel in under five the existing pass. The completed
years due to the efficient use of tunnel system will reduce the
technology, ground experience travel distance by more than
of executives and the hard work eight km and travel time by an
of civilian labour involved in the hour and will improve the quality
construction. The Sela Tunnel of life of the people living in the
Project has been constructed with region by providing easier access
the highest quality standards with to healthcare, education and
a well-prepared Quality Assurance essential services. TT
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