Bagmati, July 18: Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City has transferred responsibility of protection, operation and management of Churiyamai Tunnel to a local committee.
The sub-metropolis entrusted the responsibility to the Churiyamai Temple and Tunnel Conservation and Management Committee to ensure further effectiveness in its protection and management.
Spokesperson at the Hetauda sub-metropolitan city, Sabin Neupane, informed that the responsibility was transferred to the committee to keep local community ownership and ensure its effectiveness.
He expressed the confidence that it would contribute to the sustainable conservation of historical heritage, tourism promotion and local economic dynamics.
Mayor of the Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, Mina Kumari Lama and Committee Chairperson Prem Bahadur Bhomjan jointly signed the responsibility transfer letter, Neupane informed.
With the signing of the letter, the committee will take up responsibility for regular supervision, cleaning, maintenance, tourist management and operation of necessary infrastructure beside conservation, operation and management of the tunnel.
According to the letter, the committee can collect fees from tourists/visitors coming to observe the tunnel as designated by the sub-metropolis and the revenue shall be spent for the conservation, operation and management of the tunnel.
It is also stated that there shall be no change in the fundamental and historical structure of the tunnel; its historical form shall not be changed and annual progress with income-expenditure report shall be submitted to the sub-metropolis.
The tunnel which is considered the first-ever tunnel way in the South Asia was constructed in 1874 BS during the regime of Rana Prime Minister, Chandra Shumsher Rana.
The Bagmati province government had completed repair and maintenance of the tunnel way that had remained unused since long and transferred its management to the Hetauda sub-metropolis.
The tunnel way is expected to be developed as a historical tourism destination of Makawanpur district. #nepal #rss
