Pointing out the thrust Modi government has given to strengthen infrastructure development, Nandini Rao says tunnels are now serving as channels for transportation networks, enabling efficient connectivity across diverse terrains. In India, where geographical diversity poses challenges to connectivity, tunnels emerge as engineering marvels, bridging gaps and facilitating smoother movement of goods and people.
Tunnels have played a crucial role in India’s infrastructure development, significantly augmenting connectivity to further economic growth and boosting trade, commerce, and tourism. From facilitating smoother transportation to enabling access to remote regions, tunnels have become indispensable elements in India’s infrastructure landscape. The role of tunnels in driving infrastructure growth and catalysing grassroots changes for the people is multi-faceted.
Tunnels serve as channels for transportation networks, enabling efficient connectivity across diverse terrains. In India, where geographical diversity poses challenges to connectivity, tunnels emerge as engineering marvels, bridging gaps and facilitating smoother movement of goods and people.
Protecting borders
On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the border conflict with China in eastern Ladakh, the long-awaited Sela Tunnel was inaugurated in Arunachal Pradesh. This is the highest mountain tunnel road in India situated at an altitude of 13,800 ft.
The objective of its construction is to ensure a year-round, especially the extremely harsh winters and thick snow, connectivity in the region of Arunachal Pradesh that is marred by border dispute between India and China. It is a very important development for the Indian Army to protect the country’s borders for resource mobilisation, etc.
The government of India has initiated construction of several new tunnels along the India-China border to strengthen and ensure swift and uninterrupted road connectivity to protect the country’s borders. Till August last, five tunnels were already completed and ten were in progress while seven were in the planning stage.
Since the time of coming to power, the Modi government has given special attention to strengthening the country’s borders and infrastructure development has been at the core of this. The government has escalated the Border Road Organisation budget almost four times from INR 3,782 crore (2013-14) to INR 14,387 crore in (2023-24).
Additionally, in February 2024, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) approved an allocation of INR 6,728.33 crore for the construction of eight stretches on the Frontier Highway in Arunachal Pradesh. This is as Intermediate Lane Road spanning 305.5 km on Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) mode.
As per Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, the Frontier Highway is being constructed to control migration and promote reverse habitation towards the border regions of Arunachal Pradesh. It is aimed to set in place important road infrastructure which is lacking presently and connect river basins to facilitate the development of hydropower projects.
Arunachal Frontier Highway (AFH) or National Highway NH-913 aka Bomdila-Vijaynagar Highway (BVH) is being constructed along the India-China LAC-McMahon Line border. The approximately 1,700 km-long highway project is part of a big road infrastructure push in Arunachal Pradesh and is aimed to be completed by 2027.
Revolutionising transportation
The inauguration of the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir in 2017 marked a significant achievement in infrastructure development in India. Stretching over an impressive distance of 9.2 km, this road tunnel serves as a link, seamlessly connecting the town of Chenani in Udhampur with Nashri in the Ramban district in Jammu.
By traversing through the formidable Pir Panjal range, the tunnel aka Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel has effectively overcome geographical barriers, revolutionising transportation dynamics in the region. The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel has drastically reduced travel time between the two regions and provides commuters with a safer and more efficient passage.
Prior to the tunnel’s construction, travellers were forced to navigate treacherous mountain roads, often subjected to adverse weather conditions and the inherent risks of mountainous terrain. However, with this tunnel, this arduous journey has been replaced by a swift and seamless commute, offering commuters a reliable mode of transport throughout the year.
The tunnel has been built at an altitude of 1,200 metre and has reduced the travel distance between Jammu and Srinagar by about 40 km and time by two hours. It is providing enhanced connectivity to the residents of Kishtwar, Doda and Bhaderwah in the Jammu region and bypasses the landslide prone areas of Patnitop, Batote and Kud on NH 44.
Modern features
There are several state-of-the-art modern features incorporated in this tunnel such as – Integrated Traffic Control System, Entrance Detection Control System, Active Firefighting System, Electronic Surveillance System, Evacuative Broadcast System, and Tunnel Ventilation System. The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel has increased socio-economic growth in the region by facilitating easier access to places of work, study, markets and has created new avenues for employment and entrepreneurship.
The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel has emerged as a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors from far and wide. Tourists now flock to the region to experience the natural beauty of the surrounding Pir Panjal range and witness the engineering ingenuity behind the tunnel construction.
Tunnels also contribute to environmental sustainability by facilitating the movement of goods through efficient routes, fostering a greener and more sustainable future for communities. Tunnels stand as crucial pillars in India’s relentless pursuit of infrastructure development. They play an irreplaceable role in facilitating smoother transportation across daunting terrains, effectively bridging geographical divides and ensuring seamless movement of goods and people.
By providing reliable and efficient transport routes, tunnels unlock new opportunities for remote and underserved regions, empowering local communities and stimulating economic growth from the ground up, bolstering economic activity at the grassroots. By streamlining logistics and reducing transportation costs, tunnels create conducive conditions for business expansion, spurring entrepreneurship, and job creation along their routes. This economic dynamism cascades through local economies, empowering communities and contributing to overall regional development.
Breaking barriers, literally
The Atal Tunnel, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the presence of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur and Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur, in October 2020, heralded a new era of connectivity and opportunity for the picturesque region of Himachal Pradesh.
The tunnel is situated in the Himalayan Pir Panjal Range and constructed at a formidable altitude of 10,000 ft. It is the longest tunnel in the world at that altitude and is an all-weather 9.02 km long tunnel. Its strategic location and all-weather accessibility have transformed the region’s landscape, offering locals a dependable channel for travel and trade regardless of the weather conditions.
Built by the Border Roads Organisation, the tunnel has been designed as a single tube, two laned, bi-directional horseshoe shaped tunnel and connects Manali in the South to the Lahaul-Spiti Valley in the North, throughout the year transcending the challenges posed by the seasonal closure of the treacherous Rohtang Pass. Among the firsts, it is India’s first tunnel to have an escape tunnel within the main tunnel.
For the residents of Lahaul-Spiti Valley, it is more than just a physical passage; it symbolises a gateway to prosperity and progress. Previously isolated during the harsh winter months when the Rohtang Pass succumbed to heavy snowfall, the valley now enjoys uninterrupted connectivity year-round. This newfound accessibility has revolutionised daily life, facilitating easier access to essential services, healthcare and work opportunities for local communities.
Today, visitors flock to Lahaul-Spiti Valley to witness its breathtaking landscapes, explore its rich cultural heritage, and engage in adventure activities such as trekking and skiing. The surge in tourism has created employment opportunities and bolstered the livelihoods of the local populace, creating a sense of economic empowerment and self-sufficiency.
Local farmers and artisans can now transport their produce and handicrafts to markets in Manali and beyond, expanding their reach and augmenting their income. This exchange of goods and services has stimulated economic activity in a big way.