TANSEN: A breakthrough has been achieved in all three bypass tunnels of the much-anticipated Siddhababa Tunnel located at Dobhan, Tinau Rural Municipality-3, Palpa.
The construction of this tunnel, listed as a national pride project and given high priority by the government, has gained significant momentum over the past year.
According to the project office, the breakthrough for Bypass Tunnel 3 was completed on Bhadra 26, followed by Bypass Tunnel 1 on Asoj 4.
Bypass Tunnel 1, leading to the main tunnel, is 151 meters long, while Bypass Tunnel 3 is 130 meters long.
Similarly, the breakthrough for the 161-meter-long Bypass Tunnel 2 was achieved on Poush 7, marking a significant milestone for the project.
Construction of the Siddhababa Tunnel began in Falgun 2079 but faced a four-month delay due to landslides during the monsoon of 2080, which obstructed the tunnel entrance.
Despite these challenges, the breakthroughs were achieved by continuing work during nighttime hours.
The project office reports that only 150 meters of excavation remain for the main tunnel, with 1 kilometer of tunnel already completed on both the northern and southern sides.
With the bypass tunnels now complete, focus has shifted entirely to finishing the main tunnel, according to project chief Krishna Raj Adhikari.
The Siddhababa Tunnel, spanning 1,126 meters, is being constructed to mitigate the landslide risks along the 3-kilometer stretch of the Siddhartha Highway from Tallo Siddhababa in Butwal to Dobhan Chowki in Palpa.
The tunnel construction is being carried out by China State Construction Engineering Corporation under a contract worth NPR 7.34 billion.
Once completed, the tunnel is expected to prevent landslides in the area and facilitate smoother travel across districts like Palpa, Gulmi, Syangja, Rupandehi, Arghakhanchi, and Baglung via the Siddhartha Highway.
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