According to a report issued by The Times of India, India’s prime minister is expected to launch the construction of the world’s highest tunnel. The “first blast” to launch the construction of the strategically crucial Shinkun La tunnel is set to be conducted virtually by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The significance of the tunnel is elemental as its strategic position allows for alternate all-weather connectivity and swifter troop mobility to Ladakh. The project’s scope entails the construction of a 4.1-kilometer-long twin-tube tunnel at an altitude of 15800 feet. The project will stretch from under the forbidding Shinkun Pass to the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha Road by the Border Roads Organization. The project was green-flagged by a committee led by the Prime Minister on security in February last year. Construction of the world’s highest tunnel will be a mega infrastructure achievement by India.
The State of Affairs Regarding the World’s Highest Tunnel in India
Construction of tunnels along the northern borders with China remains a top priority despite harsh weather and terrain conditions. This is also amid the continuing military confrontation in eastern Ladakh, which is entering its fifth year now. The Sela tunnel, built at an altitude of over 13,000 feet on the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang road in Arunachal Pradesh for Rs 825 crore, for instance, was inaugurated in March.
Tunnels can also be used for underground storage of ammunition, missiles, fuel, and other supplies. “Several more tunnels are under construction or in the planning stage,” an officer noted.” The Shinkun La tunnel, which will have cross-passages every 500 meters, will take at least two years to be completed. “It will then be the highest such tunnel in the world, bypassing the Mi La tunnel in China at 15,590 feet. It will ensure swift and efficient movement of troops and heavy weapon systems and foster economic and social development in Ladakh,” he added.”
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The Significance of the Construction of the Shinkun La Tunnel in India
The significance of constructing the world’s highest tunnel, the Shinkun La Tunnel, shows immense promise in boosting the country’s transport sector. The construction of the Shinkun La tunnel comes after the BRO established “connectivity” in March on the 298-km Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road in Ladakh. The connectivity will be the third axis to the strategically important region. “The Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road derives its strategic importance from the fact that it’s not only shorter vis-a-vis the other two routes (Manali-Atal tunnel-Sarchu-Leh and Srinagar-Zojila-Kargil-Leh) but also crosses only one pass, the Shinkun La at 16,700-feet,” another officer said. “The Shinkun Pass remains snow-bound for around five months every year thus cutting off this route. The tunnel under it will ensure all-weather connectivity,” he added.
India Bolstering its Infrastructural Capabilities to Ensure It is at Par with Leading Countries such as China
India’s move to construct the world’s highest tunnel edges it closer to going toe-to-toe with infrastructural giants such as China. India has somewhat reduced the huge infrastructure differential with China along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control. This stretches from eastern Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh regarding roads, tunnels, bridges, and troop habitats. It has also included permanent defenses, helipads, and airfields over the last four years. However, a lot remains to be done, with China setting a frenetic pace in building border infrastructure and dual-use `Xiaokang’ villages, strengthening military positions, and deploying additional aircraft at its air bases facing India.
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