Siddhababa Tunnel Road: Vehicular traffic to be operated by mid-November

लगानी न्यूज

७ आश्विन २०८३, बुधबार ०८:०४September 23, 2026

Palpa. Necessary preparations have been made to operate the under-construction Siddhababa tunnel road from November.

The Siddhababa Tunnel Project Office, Butwal has forwarded the construction of the necessary infrastructures along with the main structure of the tunnel way to the final stage.TAG_OPEN_div_30

Project Chief Nawaraj Bastola said that preparations have been made to start the operation of the tunnel by November as the construction of the road inside the tunnel and other civil structures have been completed. He said, “The construction materials have been delayed due to rains and floods. We will proceed with the work inside the tunnel once the construction materials arrive in a day or two. We will resume the construction work within November 19,” he said.TAG_OPEN_div_28 ”

Bastola said that the pre-planned plan to operate vehicles has been affected for some time after the Bhotekoshi flood washed away the electrical materials brought for the tunnel. At present, the pitch of the road inside the tunnel is being completed and the painting is going on. The finishing of the technical building is also going on. The work of the civil structure including lining i.e. floor wall slope has already been completed. Chief Bastola said that the work related to electromechanical is yet to be done.TAG_OPEN_div_26

According to Soumya TAG_OPEN_div_24 Anand, information officer and engineer at the Planning Office, 69.70 per cent physical progress and 63.55 per cent financial progress has been made so far.

Anand said that so far, the work of digging the bypass tunnel, lining, 14 culverts and pre-construction of the tunnel has been completed. Three bypasses have been constructed. Engineer Anand said that after the inner work of the tunnel is completed, the work of securing the outer road area will begin. He said that the work of rucksaddle, rockfall barrier and slope protection will be done to protect the outer part of the tunnel from landslides.TAG_OPEN_div_22

{{TAG_OPEN_div_20} The construction of the 1,126-meter-long tunnel was started in 2079 BS after the contract was signed in February 2021. The construction of the project is being carried out by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation. The company was awarded the contract for Rs 7.34 billion.

Siddhartha Highway from the lower Siddhababa Temple to Dobhan of Palpa falls under the area of high landslides. The tunnel has been constructed to make this section of the highway safe as dry landslides occur during the dry season.

After the operation of this tunnel, which is being constructed on the government’s own resources, the passengers will be relieved from the problem of landslides and falling stones in Siddhababa area. People of Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Palpa, Pyuthan of Lumbini Province and Syangja, Parbat, Baglung and Myagdi of Gandaki Province will be directly benefited from it.