Preliminary works for Sidhhababa tunnel near completion

Rekhiram Rana / Palpa, Dec. 17: Preliminary works for the construction of a tunnel in the Sidhhababa area along the Sidhhartha Highway are underway in full swing. According to officials, the contractors have already prepared a design and are currently studying the project site for the construction of the tunnel named ‘Siddhababa Tunnel’.

They informed that they had performed soil test and were now constructing a site office and making arrangement for electricity connection in the area. According to the contractor company China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd., which won the contract eight months ago, it has sent the design for approval to the concerned authority.

Once the design is approved, the company said, it would start the construction without delay. “We have also received the soil test report from the contractor. They are currently ensuring the supply of a 11 kV electricity to the construction site,” said Jaylal Marasini, chief of Butwal Road Division Office.

Marasini also informed that the preliminary process is now almost complete and the contractor would start the construction soon. As per the officials, the construction is expected to complete in five years. The capital required for the construction of the 126-metre-long tunnel has been estimated at Rs. 7.342 billion.

In the Siddhababa area of the highway, vehicles have always faced trouble during monsoon due to excessive landslides. Once the tunnel is constructed, travelling through the area would be safe, officials assured. Many people had died and several injured in the recent monsoon some months ago.

“The tunnel will also ease the journey to and from Palpa, Rupandehi, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Pokhara and Baglung among other districts. We expect to utilise the tunnel soon,” said Bhimsen Karki, a local of Tansen.