NECHIPHU TUNNEL (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recently, Defence Minister of India inaugurated a total of 90 border infrastructure projects in 11 states and Union Territories. 

• These projects include the Nechiphu tunnel, which will ensure year-round connectivity to the strategically important Tawang region in Arunachal Pradesh, and the laying of the foundation stone for a significant military airfield in Nyoma, located in eastern Ladakh.
• These projects will help in faster mobility of troops and equipment to the Line of Actual Control in case of a contingency while also improving overall connectivity for the population.

Nechiphu Tunnel

• About: It is a unique 500-metre-long “D-shaped, Single Tube Double Lane Tunnel”.
• Located:  Balipara-Charduar-Tawang (BCT) Road in West Kameng District.
• Dual Traffic Capacity: This tunnel is designed to facilitate two-way traffic and will be equipped with advanced lighting and safety infrastructure.
• Objective: Its primary purpose is to provide an alternative route that circumvents the persistently foggy conditions near Nechiphu Pass, which have historically disrupted both civilian and military traffic.
• Modern Electro-Mechanical System: The tunnel will incorporate a cutting-edge electro-mechanical system, inclusive of firefighting mechanisms.

Line of Actual Control

• About: The LAC is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.
• It is segmented into three sectors: the eastern sector, encompassing Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim; the middle sector, covering Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh; and the western sector, located in Ladakh.
• India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around 2,000 km.