PALPA: The Siddhababa Tunnel, a national pride project in Palpa, has achieved 54 percent physical progress and 48 percent financial progress.
Work has accelerated following the tunnel’s breakthrough, according to project engineer Savita Gyawali.
Currently, ‘invert and lining’ work is progressing rapidly. Of the total 1,089 meters of the main tunnel, 990 meters of invert and 660 meters of the 1,126-meter lining have been completed.
In Bypass-1, out of 151 meters, 145 meters of invert and 118 meters of lining are finished.
In Bypass-3, which is 130 meters long, 36 meters of invert work has been completed, while lining is yet to begin. Bypass-2, which is 161 meters long, has not seen the start of either activity.
Gyawali added that remaining works include concreting the tunnel walls, road construction, slope stabilization, ventilation, electrical and oxygen supply systems, fire safety installations, and other finishing tasks. Helipads will be built on the tunnel’s north and south sides upon completion.
Construction of the 1,126-meter tunnel, located along the Butwal-Tansen section of the Siddhartha Highway, began in 2079 BS.
The project’s breakthrough has already been completed. China State Construction Engineering Corporation signed the Rs 7.34 billion contract, including Rs 2.14 billion in funding, with completion targeted by 2083 BS.
The Siddhartha Highway section between Lower Siddhababa Temple and Dobhan in Palpa is highly landslide-prone, even during dry seasons.
The tunnel aims to provide safe passage and mitigate frequent travel disruptions and losses caused by landslides.
Following the breakthrough, locals and travelers to districts like Gulmi, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Pokhara, Baglung, and Myagdi have expressed hope and relief.
Engineer Gyawali stated that the pace of construction picked up once the budget was secured. She expressed confidence that the project will be completed on time, especially with government support in the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83.
The government has allocated Rs 2.6 billion for the Siddhababa and Nagdhunga tunnels in the latest budget. Local resident Govindra Pokharel said the allocation has boosted public confidence, especially amid earlier concerns about budget cuts due to economic slowdown.
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