KATHMANDU, Oct 2: Following the end of the rainy season, the construction work on the eagerly anticipated Butwal-Palpa tunnel is slated to begin. This tunnel, spanning 1.126 kilometers, is a response to frequent landslides in the area, and it will connect the Chidiya Khola to the confluence on the north side of Siddhababa temple within the Butwal-Tansen section.

Ram Pukar Jaiswal, the head of Planning for the Siddhababa Tunnel Project, announced that excavation of the primary tunnel is scheduled to commence after the rainy season concludes. He noted that the preliminary groundwork, including the establishment of worker camps, has already been completed, and excavation work is expected to start shortly.

The contract for constructing this tunnel was awarded to the Chinese company China State Construction Engineering Corporation, with the agreement signed on March 9, 2022. According to the terms of the contract, the construction must be completed within five years.

While some parts of the Siddha Baba tunnel suffered minor damage from a previous landslide, it did not result in significant harm. Jaiswal explained that efforts to commence work prior to the monsoon season were hindered by a landslide, necessitating a temporary halt in construction. However, with the monsoon season nearing its end, excavation activities are now resuming.

Jaiswal added that although the primary design has been completed, modifications are ongoing as needed. "There have been some changes in the design as per the requirements," he stated.

The tunnel will span 1.126 kilometers and feature two lanes, measuring seven and a half meters in width. The contracting company is also responsible for constructing rock set structures covering an area of 780 meters along the tunnel's road. Additionally, the existing road will be expanded to accommodate two lanes. The planning office reports ongoing survey work, geological investigations, and geotechnical assessments related to the tunnel.

The design, developed by the builder, is presently undergoing review by a Swiss consultant. Sub-horizontal concrete slab design drawings and slab stabilization work for both tunnel portals have been recommended by the Swiss consultant and approved by the Department of Road.

The Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) report for the Siddha Baba tunnel construction project is in its final stages of approval by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. Preparations for the collection and storage of explosives required for tunnel construction are also underway.

Construction workers have been deployed to the site, and the contractor camp, three-phase electrical lines, and transformer connections have been completed. Efforts to remove overhanging rocks along the Siddhababa road section are ongoing, with tunneling set to commence in the fiscal year 2023/24.

The goal for the current year is to excavate 400 meters of the tunnel. China State secured the contract for the Siddhababa tunnel at a cost of NPR 7.35 billion. Among the companies shortlisted for technical selection, China State emerged as the lowest bidder among those who submitted technical proposals.

In addition to the tunnel, the expansion of the two-lane road in this section is also part of the project. A ministerial decision made by the then Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada on November 16, 2020, secured a budget of NPR 10.15 billion for the construction of the Siddha Baba Tunnel.

The section along Siddhartha Highway from Upper Siddha Baba Temple to the confluence has been highly susceptible to landslides. Tragically, dozens of lives are lost each year due to landslides in this area, both during the rainy season and winter.

Geological and pre-feasibility studies were conducted in the region from Upper Siddhababa Temple to Ramapithecus Park with development assistance from the Swiss government. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation conducted a pre-feasibility study of the Siddhababa tunnel. Regrettably, more than 450 lives have been lost due to landslides in this section.

 
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