Kathmandu, April 15: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said the construction of tunnel passages has a significant role in the enhancement of road connectivity.
In his address to a ceremony organised to mark a breakthrough of the Nagdhunga Tunnel Road today, the Prime Minister said the achievement is significant in the area of infrastructure development.
This kind of road connectivity will play a crucial role in meeting the national goals for promoting interconnectivity for a convenient and affordable travel, for promoting geographical and democratic closeness, and for maintaining provincial balance in terms of development, according to the Prime Minister.
As he said, the government will pursue a policy of prioritising the construction of tunnel passages, flyovers, and underpasses along the national highways to establish advanced road connectivity.
Similarly, the government head took time to say that the latest economic indicators suggest hopes in efforts to achieve prosperity.
He claimed that the revenue collection is improving. The reduction in fuel imports with the promotion of electric vehicles, noticeable progress in cement export, a rise in exports of corrugated zinc sheets and steel, a rise in the arrivals of tourists, and the expansion of housing and apartment businesses outside Kathmandu Valley have spread a positive message to the economic sphere.
PM Dahal called one and all to create a wider hope for advancing toward the establishment of good governance, social justice, and prosperity by overthrowing the pessimistic narrative that nothing will happen.
The Prime Minister also expressed his hope that the Third Investment Summit that Nepal is hosting on April 28-29 will explore the potential for investment in Nepal’s development in the international forum.
The excavation of the 2,688 m-long main tunnel was successfully completed today.
Mr. Kikuta Yutaka, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal congratulated all the people concerned, both Japanese and Nepalis, in overcoming so many challenges to reach this momentous milestone stating “You are the pride of country.”
The Nagdhunga Tunnel is the very first mountainous traffic road tunnel in Nepal. Worth Rs 22 billion, three-quarters of which is supported by the government of Japan with highly concessional loans to the Government of Nepal, the construction work is contracted to Japanese engineering companies and they are making every effort for the sake of development of Nepal. When it is finished after remaining interior work such as lining and connecting equipment, the convenience of traffic will be greatly improved.
This will be extremely significant for the promotion of the local economy as well. The construction of the tunnel commenced in 2019. Digging a tunnel in the Himalayan mountainous region, which is still growing and has intricate strata, is an unimaginably difficult challenge.
The inside of the evacuation and main tunnels were repeatedly hit by unexpected floods and collapses during the extremely difficult excavation work. Outside the tunnels, heavy rain caused landslides on the slope faces and the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the progress.
