Butwal, Jan 24: The main breakthrough of the Siddhababa Tunnel, a national pride project currently under construction, will take place today. The breakthrough marks the completion of the 1,126-meter tunnel along the Butwal-Tansen (Palpa) section of the Siddhartha Highway, starting from the upper Siddhababa Temple.
This is the second road tunnel after Japan-assisted Sisne-Kathmandu tunnel.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will attend the ceremony to mark the breakthrough of the main tunnel. The event will also be attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Physical Infrastructure Minister Devendra Dahal, and other high level dignitaries.
According to Project Chief Krishna Raj Adhikari, all preparations for the final breakthrough have been completed. The tunnel was constructed to ensure the safety of this section of the highway, which frequently suffers landslides, even during the dry season, particularly from the lower Siddhababa Temple to Dovan in Palpa.
The project was initiated after the Cabinet allocated the budget in 2077 BS, with the Department of Roads announcing an international tender on 2078BS, to construct the tunnel. The China State Construction Engineering Corporation began the work at a total cost of Rs 7.34 billion, with the project scheduled for completion in 2083BS.
Three bypass tunnels have also been constructed within the main tunnel as escape routes in case of emergencies. The first bypass, 151 meters long, is near the upper Siddhababa Temple, while the third bypass, 130 meters long, is on the Dovan dam side. The second bypass, 161 meters long, is located in the middle.
Once completed, this national pride project will significantly improve transportation connectivity, easing travel between Butwal and the hilly districts of Palpa, Gulmi, Syangja, Baglung, and Parbat, along with facilitating movement between Lumbini and Gandaki provinces. #nepal #Siddhababa #tunnel #road
