Melamchi tunnel construction at 900 metres per month

Melamchi / April 3: Around 900-metre of the tunnel of much-awaited Melamchi Drinking Water Project was dug out in the month of March.

The Italian Company CMC and Indian Company D Revenna won the contract for the tunnel construction on July 2013. Only 15-km tunnel has been so far dug out during the period since the contract was awarded.

According to Project Executive Director Ghanashyam Bhattarai said around 900-metre tunnel is being dug out every month by March though the monthly target was 1,200 metres.

It needs to dig out around 26-km tunnel to bring drinking water to Kathmandu from Melamchi rivulet. Some 11-km is yet to be dug out for this.

Though the Italian Company made public commitment to complete the tunnel construction by coming mid-May this year it seems the tunnel construction requires extra one year if the current pace (45 metres a day) is maintained. RSS