Zhang, who is on a four-day visit to Nepal, said that they were optimistic about completing all the physical works in the new deadline.The statement has come at a time when the project has become uncertain after missing the mid-April 2016 deadline. Government officials are also hopeful of the project meeting its new deadline as the Italian contractor for tunnel works, Cooperativa Muratori e Cementisti di Ravenna (CMC), has accelerated tunnel digging works in March. But they say the contract must accelerate its work further if it is to meet the new deadline.
Zhang concluded that the project will be completed by May next year after holding discussion with the management of civil contractor, consultant and officials of Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP). He also visited the project site in Sindhupalchowk district.
Ghanashyam Bhattarai, executive director of MWSP, said that the project will meet the new deadline only if the contractor accelerates its works. "The tunnel will be through by only June or July of 2017 if the contractors dig about nine meter per day in Ambathan section," added Bhattarai.
Work on 2,700 meters of the 4,300-meter Ambathan section is remaining.
Tunnel digging works have been divided into six sections. The contractor has been digging an average of 25 meters per day in recent days. It has been digging an average of 27.5 meters per day in this week form daily average of 20 meters.
The contractor had set a target of digging 35 meters per day in the contract document.
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