Roadblocks ahead

The Nagdhunga tunnel breakthrough is a milestone. We must now change our development culture.

With the final breakthrough of the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel on Monday, Nepal, as Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said, has entered the “tunnel age”. The breakthrough, in what is the first tunnel road in Nepal, is indeed a landmark achievement in infrastructure development. Considering its utility in a country like ours with hilly terrains, the tunnel has become a symbol of hope, and is rightly the talk of the town. There are also renewed hopes among the citizens that the other tunnel road projects will soon make headway. Another important tunnel road project in Siddhababa, Palpa, is underway, and almost two dozen similar projects are being discussed. We have big dreams about tunnels becoming conduits of prosperity.