Construction progress of Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel is 9 percent

KATHMANDU: Construction of Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel has moved ahead. So far, more than 9 percent of the tunnel has been constructed. The Nagdhunga Tunnel Project has stated that the construction is progressing in the current fiscal year even though the construction was slow due to the impact of Covid-19 last year.

Project Chief Nareshman Shakya said that even though it was much later than the scheduled time till last year, now it is only a month late. At present, the tunnel is working 24 hours a day. “We are working day and night on all days except Saturday,” he said.

Along with the tunnel excavation work, the construction of ancillary infrastructure is also moving ahead. According to the project, 49 meters of the main tunnel has been dug from the east side and 149 meters from the west side of the 2.35 km long tunnel. A 45-meter tunnel has been dug for emergency use.

Chief Shakya said that it will be easier to dig the tunnel now as the work of digging the tunnel has been done in difficult geography. “The speed of the tunnel will increase these days,” he said.

An overpass is being constructed at Nagdhunga in front of the main tunnel under the same project. Construction of access road to the tunnel is underway. As the project may cause drinking water problem, construction of infrastructure as an alternative is moving ahead. The access road and the overpass will be completed in a month and a half.

The project is trying to divert the Sisnekhola to the other side. Chief Shakya said that the river is being filled for the construction of various infrastructures including the center for collecting the produce of the locals. He said that the construction of the big ground has been completed in one phase. The project had scheduled 16 months to dig the tunnel. Chief Shakya said that one month has passed since then. Now, the work has moved forward in such a way that it can be mined in 15 months. After the excavation work, the final work in the tunnel will be 9. During that time, there will be connection of lights, management of lights to put out the fire, installation of CCTV and other works.

Nepali and Japanese manpower are currently working on the construction site. There are about 90 Nepali engineers and three from the consulting company. There are 24 technical manpower of the construction company working there. In the case of incompetent manpower, all are Nepalis. At present, about 350 workers are employed. Chief Shakya said that 14 technical manpower of the Road Department is at the construction site. He said, “As it is the first tunnel in Nepal, there is an opportunity for Nepali technicians to learn.”

In Ashoj last year, the company had signed a contract with the Road Department to complete the construction in 42 months. An agreement was reached to build the tunnel on a soft loan from the Japanese government. The daily traffic congestion on the Nagdhunga-Naubise road section is expected to decrease with the opening of the tunnel. There will be a solution if many vehicles and people are stranded in that place. Along with this solution, petroleum products will also be saved.

Under the project, two tunnels of nine and a half meters and four meters will be constructed. Two flyovers, a service center and 3.1 kilometers of new roads will be constructed. A flyover is being constructed at the mouth of the tunnel and at Satungal. According to international standards, the width of a lane is three and a half meters. Even if three lanes are not reached, three vehicles will be able to move easily on the main tunnel. When one vehicle breaks down, both vehicles will be able to run. Auxiliary tunnels are said to be for immediate rescue. In some places, auxiliary tunnels will be built from the main tunnel.

The strong stones and soil excavated from the tunnel will be used during the construction. A service center will be constructed at the same place by filling the weak stone in Sisnekhola. There will be a bus park and a vegetable collection center at that place. It is planned to hand over the center to Dhunibensi municipality as soon as the construction is completed. An agreement was reached between Hajmaangdo Corporation and the department in September last year. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on October 19 last year. Shortly afterwards, construction began