Siddhababa Tunnel to Open for Traffic by Mid-December

Palpa. Preparations are underway to open the under-construction Siddhababa Tunnel for vehicular traffic from next December. The Siddhababa Tunnel Project Office, Butwal, is working to complete the main structure of the tunnel and necessary infrastructure. Project Chief Navraj Bastola stated that the tunnel is expected to be operational by mid-December, as the road construction and other civil works inside the tunnel are complete. He mentioned, "Due to delays in construction materials caused by monsoon rains and floods in Bhote Koshi, the opening has been postponed by a month. We will resume work inside the tunnel within a day or two once the construction materials arrive." He added, "We will open for traffic by December 15th." Bastola explained that the planned opening was affected when floodwaters in Bhote Koshi washed away electrical equipment intended for the tunnel. Currently, the road inside the tunnel has been paved, and painting is in progress. Finishing work on the technical building is also underway. The civil works, including the lining and floor-wall concreting, were completed earlier. The electromechanical work remains, according to Chief Bastola. Soumya Anand, Information Officer and Engineer at the project office, reported that the physical progress of the tunnel stands at 69.70 percent, and financial progress is at 63.55 percent. Anand further stated that the excavation of the main tunnel and bypass tunnels, lining, construction of 14 culverts, and pre-pavement work inside the tunnel have been completed. Three bypasses have been constructed. Following the completion of internal tunnel work, efforts will focus on securing the external road area, including constructing rock sheds, rockfall barriers, and slope protection to prevent landslides, according to Engineer Anand. The 1,126-meter-long tunnel was contracted in February 2021 and construction began in 2022. The project is being executed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, which secured the contract for NPR 7.34 billion. The tunnel is being built with the government's own resources. This section of the Siddhartha Highway, from the lower Siddhababa temple to Dobhan in Palpa, is prone to heavy landslides. The tunnel has been constructed to make this highway section safe from dry landslides during the dry season. Once operational, the tunnel will alleviate the problem of landslides and falling rocks in the Siddhababa area for travelers. Citizens from Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Palpa, and Pyuthan in Lumbini Province, as well as Syangja, Parbat, Baglung, and Myagdi in Gandaki Province, will directly benefit from this project.