PALPA: The construction of the Siddhababa Tunnel, a project of national pride, is progressing steadily. Work has gained momentum following the breakthrough of the tunnel under construction in the Dobhan-Siddhababa area of Tinau Rural Municipality-3, Palpa, along the Siddhartha Highway.
According to Engineer Sabita Gyawali of the Siddhababa Tunnel Project Office, the tunnel’s physical progress has reached 57.51 percent, while financial progress stands at 51.1 percent.
She informed that 1,089 meters of the main tunnel floor slope (invert) has been completed. Lining work has been completed on 834 meters along both the right and left sides, with lining currently underway on an additional 292 meters inside the tunnel.
“Of the three bypass tunnels, the first is 151 meters long, the second 161 meters, and the third 130 meters. Invert work on the first bypass and lining on 124 meters has been completed. On the third bypass, invert work has reached 125 meters, and 30 meters of lining has been finished,” she said.
The main tunnel, which will have two lanes, is 1,089 meters long, 10.5 meters wide, and approximately seven meters high. After the invert and lining work is complete, installation of lighting, communication, and safety systems will begin within the next month or two, said Project Chief Krishna Raj Adhikari.
He added that the main tunnel is now suitable for the movement of essential vehicles. Progress is being closely monitored by public representatives, security agencies, and other stakeholders.
Thakur Prasad Gaire, a member of the House of Representatives who visited the site, emphasized that people’s representatives must provide full support to ensure timely completion.
Construction of the 1,126-meter tunnel, starting from the Upper Siddhababa Temple on the Butwal–Tansen road section of the Siddhartha Highway, began in 2079 BS. The breakthrough of the main tunnel has already been achieved.
The project, being executed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation at a cost of Rs 7.34 billion (including Rs 2.14 billion in VAT), is expected to be completed by 2083 BS.
The area from the Lower Siddhababa Temple to Dobhan in Palpa is highly prone to landslides. Engineer Gyawali stated that the tunnel aims to provide a safer alternative to this hazardous section of the highway, which experiences landslides and dust even during the dry season.
This road section is a crucial route for vehicles traveling to Gulmi, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Pokhara, Baglung, and Myagdi.
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