Preparation underway to extend deadline for Melamchi tunnel construction

Kathmandu / March 21: Preparations have been initiated to extend the deadline for the construction of much-awaited Melamchi Drinking Water Project, as it was unlikely to be completed as per schedule.

An agreement was signed with an Italian contractor, CMC, to complete the tunnel construction by mid-October 2016.

Project’s Executive Director Ghanashyam Bhattarai shared that the tunnel construction saw disruption for 11 months following the unofficial border-based blockade imposed by India on 23 September 2016 before resumption of work that was put off due to 25 April devastating earthquake.

Though the tunnel construction work that was stagnated after earthquake and blockade had partially resumed since February fourth week, the groundwork has been initiated to speed up the works in a full-fledged capacity.

“Daily 30 metres of tunnel is being dug out after normalcy. So far 14-km has been constructed while 12.5-km is still unfinished. The preparation is underway to extend the deadline for completing the tunnel construction works”, Bhattarai added. RSS