The breakthrough of the much-awaited Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Project's tunnel, considered significant for irrigation, electricity, and tourism, was achieved on Wednesday. This 13.3-kilometer tunnel route, stretching from Kusumtar in Kamalamai Municipality-2 to Kandhungri in Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-7 in Sindhuli district, marks Nepal's second commercial tunnel route breakthrough, following the Nagadhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel, which achieved the same feat just three weeks ago. Although the Sunkosi-Marin Diversion multipurpose project is situated in Sindhuli, it will benefit several districts, mainly in the Madhesh Province. The project aims to divert water from the Sunkoshi River to the Marin River, providing irrigation to 122,000 hectares of land in Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, and Dhanusha districts in the Madhesh Province. This development is expected to contribute to Nepal's long-term food security in addition to bringing several other benefits in the region.

Furthermore, power generation is another crucial component of the project. Plans include constructing a 30-meter-high and 158-meter-long dam on the Sunkoshi River at Kandhungri, releasing water into the Marin River at Kusumtar, generating 31 MW of electricity. However, this phase of the project is slated for the future, promising significant advancements in Nepal's electricity capacity and numerous associated benefits. The Madan Bhandari Highway, constructed alongside this project, offers expedited travel from Hetauda to eastern Nepal and facilitates swift access to the capital. With its untapped potential for both domestic and foreign tourism, this highway and the project area are primed to become prominent destinations for sightseeing and research once the Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Project is over. Thus, the tunnel's opening heralds good news not only for the people of Sindhuli but for all Nepalis.

While the successive openings of tunnels signify progress for Nepal, questions arise regarding the discrepancy between the completion of tunnel excavation ahead of schedule. Of course, it is good news that the construction of the tunnel of the Sunkoshi Marine Diversion, which began in September 2022, was completed three months before the scheduled time. It is certainly not good news that the overall progress of the project, supposed to be completed by September 2027, has achieved only 30 percent progress so far. Additionally, while the breakthrough of the tunnel sends a positive message, completion works are estimated to require an additional year. Nepal's development projects often face delays, raising concerns about the efficiency of endeavors like the Sunkosi-Marin project, touted as a national pride. Thus, a balance between initiating and completing projects, ensuring quality, and timely delivery is imperative to sustain such vital endeavors. It is important to take Nepal into the tunnel era to usher the country’s economic prosperity by identifying similar projects across the country.

 
• Sunkoshi-Marin_Diversion_Project
 
• tunnel
 
• breakthrough
 
• development_projects