KATHMANDU, June 18: The contractor of the Siddhababa Tunnel Project has completed excavation of over 166 meters of the tunnel along the Siddhartha Highway. The government has signed a contract worth Rs 7.34 billion with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation for the construction of the 1.12 km long tunnel along the highway section which is prone to landslides.

According to the construction company, as of Sunday, they have completed excavation of 166.28 meters of the 1,136 meters long tunnel.

A total of 76.12 meters have been excavated towards the northern side and 90.16 meters towards the southern side of the tunnel. Similarly, the physical progress of the tunnel has now reached 12.63 percent.

As  per the contract, the construction company has to complete slope protection work in a total of 2,300 square meters, out of which 1,415 square meters of work has been completed towards the north side. On the southern side, 495 square meters of slope protection work has been completed, added the project officials.

The financial progress of the project has reached 17.5 percent as mentioned in the details released by the project. 

The project is being constructed under the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model.

Under the EPC model, the contractor company makes the design on its own and the cost of repair and maintenance of the project needs to be borne by the company itself for five years.

 
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