Budgets allocated for 14 road tunnel projects

With the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel road nearing completion, the government is considering building 23 new highway tunnels on major roads across the country.

According to the Ministry of Finance, nine tunnel roads, including Tathali-Rabi Opi (Kavre), Prabas-Jorte (Palpa), Besisahar-Nalmabesi (Lamjung), Tokha-Chahare (Nuwakot), and Panini-Durga Phant, have not been allocated any funds for the upcoming fiscal year year as the preliminary studies on these projects have already been completed.

The government has allocated budgets for 14 tunnel tunnel passages including two underpasses in the upcoming fiscal year which begins on July 16. Siddhababa, Dumkibas-Bardaghat (Nawalparasi), Hemja-Naya Pul (Kaski), Majhimtar-Shaktikhor (Chitwan), Babai-Chinchu (Surkhet), Dharan-Leuti, BP Nagar-Khutiya (Dipayal) Chhorepatan-Phedikhola, Kushe Patan (Jumla), and Tulsipur-Luham. Additionally, a budget has been allocated for the New Baneshwar Underpass project. 

However, since only Rs 810m have been allocated for these projects, experts say the funds won’t be sufficient even to conduct preliminary study. The BP Nagar-Khutiya tunnel passageway for example has been allocated a meager budget of Rs 400,000. The estimated cost for tunnel ways is more than Rs 3bn per kilometer, according to experts.

Other tunnel projects have been allocated budgets ranging from Rs 400,000 to Rs 2.5m. Experts say that these amounts are insufficient even for conducting preliminary studies.

The previous government had allocated Rs 1bn for the Tokha-Chahare tunnel to prepare a detailed project report and conduct an environmental assessment. However, the new government has not advanced the project.

Former Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat had pushed for the Tokha-Chahare project as it would significantly reduce distance to the Nepal-China border town of Rasuwagadhi with Kathmandu. 

Siddhababa tunnel breakthrough in three months

The Siddhababa tunnel on the Siddhartha Highway that links Pokhara with Nepal-India border in Bhairahawa is expected to achieve breakthrough in three months. 

The government has made an allocation of Rs 208.1m to the project for the upcoming fiscal year. It has been allocated Rs 651.8m in the current fiscal year. 

Chinese firm China State Construction Engineering Corporation was awarded the contract to  execute the project in March, 2022. The company began excavation in January this year. The total cost of the project is Rs 7.34bn. As per contract, the Chinese firm must complete the project within five years. 

The project includes digging a 1,136-meter tunnel, three emergency bypasses of 155 meters, 145 meters and 121 meters, respectively, and upgraded road on both ends of the tunnel.

According to project officials, the Chinese company has already dug 267 meters of the tunnel and is excavating about nine meters per day.